People are still advised against eating fish from the Ogeechee River or swimming in its waters until further notice.
    Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn, after a conference call with Environmental Protection Division and Department of Natural Resources officials Tuesday, said additional testing is needed before determination can be made as to why several fish were found dead at the U.S. 301 (Dover) and Ga. 24 (Oliver) landings last week.
    Initial tests on very small fish found dead have not divulged the reason for the fish kill, but further tests on tissue from larger fish are expected to reveal results by Thursday or Friday, Wynn said.
    The dead fish that were collected had lesions and white patches similar to those found dead a year ago, when about 38,000 fish floated to the surface along several miles of the Ogeechee. The cause of that fish kill was ruled to be columnaris, a bacterial disease caused by environmental stress.
    Many, including Ogeechee Riverkeeper Dianna Wedincamp, have said they believe pollution from King America Finishing caused the stress. Representatives for King America said last week that the textiles plant is not in violation of any discharge permits. Wedincamp said tests prove there are very high levels of ammonia and formaldehyde in the river.
    Wynn said another conference call is slated for Friday.