Delaware confirms first case of cyclosporiasis

Delaware recorded its first case of cyclosporiasis this week as the parasitic infection spreads across the country.

The FDA linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms.

RELATED: What we still don't know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak as cases rise

Health officials say the contaminated food has likely already been eaten or pulled from the shelves, but the illness can take a while to appear so cases continue to rise.

This comes as the FDA investigates a new potential outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Officials have not yet identified the location or source of the cases, but it says this cluster includes at least 72 cases of the parasite.

RELATED: Local farms see interest rise as cyclosporiasis outbreak raises concerns about produce

What is Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as Cyclospora, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The infection affects the small intestine and can cause watery diarrhea with sometimes "explosive" bowel movements, according to the federal health agency.

Other symptoms can include cramping, bloating, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting.

The agency further said it takes about one week from the time of infection to become symptomatic, but that time can range from two days to two weeks.

How it spreads

The parasite usually spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.

Foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro, according to the CDC.

How the infection is diagnosed

A healthcare provider will diagnose cyclosporiasis by testing stool samples, according to the CDC.

Patients may have to submit several stool samples on different days to detect the parasite because laboratory tests may have a hard time detecting Cyclospora.

The CDC says a patient's healthcare provider will need to specifically request testing for the parasite.

How cyclosporiasis is treated

Cyclosporiasis is treated with the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim, and taken for 10 days, according to the CDC.

The CDC says most people with healthy immune systems will eventually recover without treatment, but if left untreated, patients may be sick for a few days to a month or longer.

How to prevent infection

It's unclear exactly how Cyclospora contaminates food and water, according to the CDC.

The agency says people can prevent infection by thoroughly washing produce, cutting away bruised or damaged parts of fruits and vegetables, and refrigerating pre-prepared or pre-cut produce.

Additionally, the CDC recommends washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.

ABC News contributed to this post.