Cyclosporiasis cases began appearing across the United States in May. As July nears its closure, the outbreak is still plenty present across Houston and Harris County. 

There were 21 Cyclosporiasis cases in Houston and 38 across the rest of Harris County as of Monday, a Harris County Public Health official confirmed to Chron. That number is up from last Tuesday’s count of 34 cases in Harris County, and 16 in Houston, per ABC 13. The next Cyclosporiasis case update in Harris County will arrive on Wednesday. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services last week reported the state has 98 confirmed active cases of Cyclosporiasis. A report Friday from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated Texas has seen between 81 and 160 cases of Cyclosporiasis since May 1. The CDC noted that figure may be larger in reality.

“The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported,” the CDC noted Friday.

There have been more than 12,000 confirmed cases of Cyclosporiasis nationwide since May, with the greatest concentration in Michigan and Ohio. Both states have reported more than 600 confirmed Cyclosporiasis cases, according to the CDC.

Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, told NBC News she expects cases to continue to increase nationwide through August. Shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms was identified by the FDA earlier this month as a potential source of Cyclosporiasis cases in the United States, however, an early false positive test reported by the government agency has sown doubt and confusion for the company and its customers.  Taylor Farms issued a voluntarily recall on bagged lettuce products from a Mexico supplier on July 17

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by by the Cyclospora parasite, according to the CDC. People can get sick eating food or drinking water contaminated with human poop containing Cyclospora. Food products linked to the ongoing outbreak include salad greens, cilantro, basil, raspberries, green onions and snow peas. CDC officials urge citizens to receive treatment for Cyclosporiasis through antibiotics if they contract the illness. If left untreated, citizens can suffer a variety of symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and frequent, watery diarrhea.