CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire public health officials say they are concerned about a surge in the number of wild mushroom poisonings in the state.

The state Department of Health and Human Services says the number of emergency room visits attributed to eating wild mushrooms has jumped from eight in 2009, to 11 in 2010 to 31 this year. Eighteen of those have come this month.

Director Dr. Jose Montero says wild mushroom poisonings are usually limited to children and young adults, but he says officials are now seeing people of all ages showing up in hospitals.

He says people should be careful because many toxic mushrooms look like the safe ones, and there is an abundance of mushrooms because of the recent wet weather.

Symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, fever and diarrhea.

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