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California Resident Dies from Deadly Death Cap Mushroom Poisoning

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Tragic Incident in California: Death from Death Cap Mushrooms

A California man tragically died last weekend after consuming death cap mushrooms, marking the state’s third fatality linked to these toxic fungi since November. This alarming trend highlights the dangers posed by foraged mushrooms.

Between November 18th and January 4th, California reported an ASTONISHING 35 cases of mushroom poisoning. In a typical year, you would find fewer than five such cases, indicating a significant spike in poisonings.

According to Sheri Cardo, a communications specialist with the state health department, “The numbers we’re dealing with this year are relatively insane.” This spike has prompted serious concerns about mushroom foraging in California.

Following these incidents, a warning was issued by the health department on December 5, advising residents against consuming foraged mushrooms. The advisory specifically noted poisonings concentrated in areas like Monterey and the San Francisco Bay.

The latest fatalities occurred in Sonoma County. The county health department confirmed this as the first death attributed to wild mushrooms this season.

Sonoma County Interim Health Officer, Dr. Michael Stacy, urged residents to only purchase mushrooms from trusted grocery stores, stressing that death cap mushrooms bear a close resemblance to various edible species.

Stacy noted, “Early rains and a mild fall have led to an outbreak of poisonous death cap mushrooms in Northern California,” as he elaborated in a press release issued last Thursday.

The California Poison Control System highlighted that some individuals affected by death cap poisoning spoke Spanish and may have applied foraging practices from their home countries. Heather Hallen-Adams, director of toxicology for the Mycological Society of North America, explained that death cap mushrooms closely resemble other Amanita species that are safe and commonly collected in Mexico.

Death cap mushrooms contain a dangerous toxin known as amatoxin. If ingested, this toxin can severely damage vital organs, including the kidneys and liver. Symptoms of poisoning often take up to 24 hours to manifest, appearing as mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. More severe consequences, such as liver failure, can occur within two to three days.

Hallen-Adams also stated that approximately 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings are linked to amatoxin poisoning, with even a small amount—equivalent to that of a standard sugar cube—being lethal.

Reports indicate that three individuals in California now require liver transplants due to severe wild mushroom poisoning.

The death cap mushroom, scientifically known as Amanita phalloides, is an invasive species that originated in Europe, making its way to California via imported seedlings in the 1930s. It typically thrives near oak trees and occasionally near pines, growing several inches tall, featuring white gills, a pale yellow or green cap, and a distinctive ring around its stem.

Typically, the U.S. Poison Center receives about 52 calls annually regarding amatoxin poisoning, although not all cases are reported to the center.

Mike McCurdy, president of the San Francisco Mycological Society, indicated that the risk for this season may be declining. As an avid mushroom collector, he shared that while he observed many death cap mushrooms during his outings earlier this winter, he has seen significantly fewer lately.

“I think we’re nearing the end,” McCurdy noted after spotting just one death cap mushroom on a recent trip near Lafayette, California.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Texas Woman Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Using Tap Water for Sinus Rinse

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a Texas woman died from an infection linked to an amoeba after using tap water for sinus irrigation, which ultimately led to brain damage Case report.

The 71-year-old woman, who was otherwise healthy, experienced severe neurological symptoms, including fever, headache, and altered mental status, four days after using tap water from the RV’s water system to fill her nasal irrigation device at a Texas campground.

She received treatment for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.” Despite medical intervention, she suffered a seizure and succumbed to the infection eight days post-symptom onset, according to the CDC.

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the amoeba in the woman’s cerebrospinal fluid.

The CDC noted that while infections commonly occur after recreational water use, using undistilled water for sinus irrigation is also a significant risk factor for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

A survey conducted by the agency revealed that although the woman had not been recently exposed to freshwater, she had used non-boiled water from the RV’s drinking water tap for nasal irrigation multiple times prior to her illness.

According to the survey findings, the RV’s drinking water tanks were filled and potentially contained contaminated water before the RV was purchased three months earlier. The investigation concluded that contamination could have originated from local government water systems linked to the drinking water systems and bypassing the tanks.

The agency underscores the importance of using distilled, sterilized, or previously boiled and cooled tap water for nasal irrigation to lower the risk of infection or illness.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Samsung Electronics executive Han Jong-Hee dies at 63

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Han Jong-Hee, co-director of Samsung Electronics and nearly four-year veteran of South Korean consumer technology giant, passed away on Tuesday.

According to a company spokesman, Han, 63, suffered a sudden heart attack.

Since 2022, Han has shared the Chief Executive Officer and CEO of Samsung’s semiconductor business, and more recently Jun Young Hyun. Jun was named Samsung Electronics’ sole CEO on Tuesday after Han’s death, the company said: Announcement.

Han has been running Samsung’s home appliance business since 2021, and added the operation of a digital appliance to his brief a year later. He was also a member of the board. Previously, he oversaw a group that created visual displays for various Samsung electronic devices.

Han graduated from Inha University in Incheon, South Korea and earned a degree in electrical engineering. He joined Samsung in 1988 at a pivotal time in the company’s history, shortly after the death of its founder, Lee Byungchul.

Lee’s son and successor dominated the market for thin displays and mobile phones, pushing Samsung mercilessly through the technological changes of the 1990s and 2000s.

Samsung is the largest and most successful conglomerate known as Choi Bol, which transformed South Korea’s economy into a global export powerhouse. Samsung Electronics is a significant part of it of the country’s exports. Samsung is one of the most popular brands in the global smartphone market, competing with Apple and Xiaomi. It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of memory chips used in everything from electric vehicles and smartwatches to advanced artificial intelligence servers.

Han was survived by his wife and three children, the company said. The funeral will be held on Thursday at the funeral home of Samsung Seoul Hospital, a spokeswoman said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Former OpenAI employee who blew the whistle dies, was set to testify for the company

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Suthir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower, revealed that he played a role in training the artificial intelligence system powering ChatGPT. He later expressed concerns that these actions breached copyright laws. His passing was announced by his parents and San Francisco officials, stating that he was 26 years old.

Working at OpenAI for almost four years until his retirement in August, Balaji was highly esteemed by his colleagues. Co-founders described him as one of the strongest contributors to OpenAI, crucial for the development of its products.

OpenAI released a statement expressing their devastation upon learning of Balaji’s death, extending sympathy to his loved ones during this challenging time.

Balaji was discovered deceased in his San Francisco residence on November 26, with authorities suspecting suicide. Initial investigations found no evidence of foul play, as confirmed by the city’s Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

His parents, Poornima Rama Rao and Balaji Ramamurthy, continued seeking answers, remembering their son as a happy, intelligent, and courageous individual who enjoyed hiking and had recently returned from a trip with friends.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Balaji studied computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. Joining OpenAI initially for a summer internship in 2018, he later returned to create WebGPT, a project instrumental in the development of ChatGPT.

Remembered for his essential contributions to OpenAI projects, Balaji’s meticulous nature and problem-solving skills were praised by co-founder John Schulman. Balaji’s involvement in training GPT-4 opened discussions about copyright concerns within the AI research field.

Balaji’s stance on copyright infringement, detailed in interviews with media outlets, raised eyebrows within the AI community. Despite mixed reactions, he remained steadfast in his beliefs about the ethical implications of using data without proper authorization.

His decision to leave OpenAI was influenced by internal conflicts and his desire to explore alternative methods for building artificial general intelligence. Memorial services are scheduled later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California.

In the US, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for crisis support. In the UK and Ireland, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123 or via email. Australian crisis support services can be reached at 13 11 14. International helplines are available at befrienders.org

The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing agreement granting OpenAI access to certain AP text archives.

Source: www.theguardian.com