Facing the largest food-borne illness investigation in recent history, the state’s health department says it is "too early to say" whether the agency will look at how it inspects restaurants or issues public health advisories.

The number of peopled sickened from a salmonella outbreak in Camden grew to 287 on Saturday, with 50 hospitalized. The death of 58-year-old James Arledge has been linked to the outbreak, which affected those who ate at the Old South Restaurant between May 19-22.

The Department of Health and Environment Control issued a statewide public health advisory Wednesday, a day after the restaurant voluntarily closed and two days after the buffet was inspected and received an "A" rating.

The DHEC tries to quickly notify people who might have been affected by a food-borne illness, and the situation in Camden is "very rare."