Explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue. Thousands of people in at least 34 states have fallen ill with cyclosporiasis, a parasitic food-borne infection.

Health officials have reportedly identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell restaurants as a potential source of the outbreak, but it may not be the only cause.

Forbes expert healthcare contributors have been tracking the outbreak. Here, they explain how the illness spreads and what you can do to protect yourself.

What Is Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is an infection caused by a tiny parasite called cyclospora cayetanensis, the biologist and Forbes contributor Victoria Forster writes.

"In the U.S. cyclosporiasis has repeatedly been linked to contaminated fresh produce that has come into contact with feces," Forster writes, adding: “Previous outbreaks have been associated with imported and domestically grown leafy greens, basil, cilantro, raspberries and packaged salad mixes, often eaten raw.”

Forster notes that "cyclosporiasis remains relatively uncommon in the U.S. compared to more common sources of food poisoning caused by bacteria," but there have been other similar outbreaks before.

Read more: Poop Parasite Causes Hundreds Of Cases Of Explosive Diarrhea

The parasite spreads through contaminated food or water, often when irrigation or wash water has been contaminated with human waste.

Many of the latest cases have been traced to iceberg lettuce at........

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