2 children die of suspected mushroom poisoning in Denmark

Two children in Denmark died after treatment for suspected mushroom poisoning failed, while another two children from the same family of 12 remain in serious conditions, local media reported Thursday.

The children are among 11 family members who were hospitalized at Rigshospitalet hospital in Copenhagen, the capital city. They were initially believed to be poisoned after eating collected mushrooms, according to the Danish news agency Ritzau.

"We have just been informed that two of the children have died and we can not say anything about the condition of the others, who are still being treated," Soeren Ravn-Nielsen, deputy police inspector with the South Sealand and Lolland Falster Police, was quoted as saying at a press conference.

Doctor Trine Lilleng told the press conference that both children, one is 15 year-old while the other younger, died very quickly after the ambulance arrived at their home in Haslev, some 70 km south of Copenhagen.

The two deceased children and the other family members were driven to three different hospitals in Zealand, and by Thursday evening the whole family is transferred to Rigshospitalet.

The authorities revealed that the family is of a different ethnic origin than Danish, and the local TV2 TV station reported that they are refugees of Congolese origin.

An investigation into the cause of the poisoning is still under way.

"We investigate broadly what is the background for this incident. Immediately there is nothing that indicates a crime," Ravn-Nielsen said.