An unwelcome parasite is upending the summer for many Americans as suspected foodborne illnesses spread and a Minnesota expert has insight on the situation.

There are many unknowns but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said cyclospora, which causes explosive diarrhea, is present in multiple states with several thousand suspected cases. People can become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite.

Melanie Firestone, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said cases this summer are much higher than normal, keeping public health teams on their toes.

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"State and local health departments that are actively involved are working hard to interview people to identify what they ate and identify commonalities," Firestone explained.

Firestone suggested cyclospora can be a trickier outbreak to get a read on. The one- to two-week incubation period is considered one of the challenges in tracing contamination.

As officials try to confirm the source, lettuce and salad greens have been linked to the situation but Firestone noted other foods could be involved. For people experiencing frequent, watery bowel movements, it's important to notify local clinicians. Firestone added salad lovers worried about what to eat can take some precautionary steps.

"It's really important that you make sure to reduce your risk by thoroughly washing fresh produce under clean, cool running water before eating," Firestone advised.

Federal health messaging and monitoring strategies have come under scrutiny during the Trump administration. Firestone pointed out University of Minnesota research found it is the erosion of federal resources putting surveillance in an especially tough spot.

In defending recent federal moves, the CDC recently posted about the need to prioritize core activities while maintaining both the infrastructure and quality of a key tracking system.