Nearly 7,000 people in the country may have cyclosporiasis, a parasitic foodborne illness that can cause weeks of intestinal unrest and diarrhea, according to the latest federal figures.

There are 1,645 lab-confirmed domestic cases, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said an additional 5,100 cases are under investigation, a number substantially higher than normal. This time last year, there were fewer than 250 cases.

The parasite that causes the illness contaminates fresh produce, but health officials have said they don’t know which types of produce or which suppliers are linked to the outbreak.

No deaths have been reported from the outbreak, but 141 people have been hospitalized. Cases have now been identified in 34 states, with the bulk of them in Michigan.

Officials in Michigan on Monday tentatively identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for the outbreak, and the Washington Post reported that Taco Bell is being investigated.

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