Authorities estimate the spill had gone unnoticed for at least a week, but could have lasted for up to 2 months.

As a result of the spill, health officials have recalled oysters harvested in the affected area from Charleston Harbor south to the North Edisto River between Feb. 19 and Wednesday.

“We can’t definitively say there was a leak during that time (Jan. 4 to Monday), but we assume there was,” said Mike Saia, water system communications manager.

The affected shellfish beds were closed to harvesting on Tuesday. The oyster harvesting closure and recall were ordered in the interest of public health, officials said.

“Wastewater may contain viruses that can be transferred to people if they consume contaminated oysters,” DHEC said in a statement Thursday.

To date, area emergency rooms have reported no cases of food poisoning related to tainted shellfish.

Source: Washington Times

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