Lamphun family hospitalised after toxic fungus ingestion

A family in Lamphun province was hospitalised after consuming a toxic fungus, commonly known as Waan Jak Jan.

The incident occurred after the husband, 60 year old Tui, collected fungus from a termite mound in his longan orchard, mistaking it for a recently deceased termite larvae which he thought was safe to eat.

Tui, a resident of Thung Man, Pa Phlu Subdistrict, Ban Hong District, Lamphun, discovered a damp, old termite mound while tending to his longan orchard on Tuesday morning. After digging into the mound with a hoe, he found a large number of what he believed to be fresh termite larvae due to their firm and unspoiled nature.

Unbeknownst to Tui, these were Waan Jak Jan, a deadly fungus that grows on dead insects and is often mistaken for a plant or root, especially during the rainy season.

Upon returning home, Tui gave the fungus to his wife,…