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Nearly two months after cases of explosive diarrhea started mounting in several states, on July 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning urging people not to eat shredded lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in five states—Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The agency and state health officials have linked more than 1,600 cases of diarrhea to the Cyclospora parasite, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like explosive diarrhea. In total, the CDC is investigating nearly 7,000 confirmed or suspected cases in dozens of states across the country but says that health officials have been able to trace this group of more than 1,600 cases to a single common supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico.

"Because the investigation remains ongoing, additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified as the investigation continues," wrote the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its website on July 16.

Lettuce (and cilantro) imported from Mexico have been involved in a previous Cyclospora outbreak in 2013, says Robert Mandrell, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official who was involved in that investigation. In that outbreak, about 630 people in 25 states became sick, and CDC and state health officials traced the outbreak to contaminated salad mix produced in Guanajuato and cilantro produced in Puebla.

Given the number of people involved in the current outbreak already, Mandrell suspects there may be multiple sources of contamination, since this is the time that the parasite generally flourishes. (On its website, the CDC notes that it is "also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak.")

"The seasonality of Cyclospora is very striking," Mandrell says. "Year after year after year, we see cases May to August, and then they go away. We don't understand why we only see very few cases in November or December, and why now is the time. That's why temperature is always brought up as one of the factors [important for] the developmental cycle of Cyclospora. The temperature this time of year, plus the precipitation, are somehow connected."

According to the FDA, which is responsible for inspecting domestic and imported produce, Cyclospora has been found before in other fruits and vegetables, including those that peak in popularity and freshness in the summer. Raspberries, blackberries, lettuce, cilantro, snow peas, and basil and pre-washed bagged salads have all been implicated in past cyclosporiasis outbreaks.

Here’s what experts say you should worry about and what you can do to protect yourself without quitting produce altogether.

What are Cyclospora symptoms?

The primary symptom of cyclosporiasis is watery diarrhea, which can be explosive at times. Unlike with food poisoning caused by bacteria like E. coli or salmonella, Cyclospora infection does not generally cause vomiting or nausea. The diarrhea can also last for days, or even weeks. If you’ve been experiencing diarrhea for more than a few days, or if the diarrhea seems to subside but then starts again, experts recommend seeing a health care provider.

Is it easy to get a test for Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is not a common pathogen that doctors routinely test for. A physician would have to order a stool test specifically if they suspect the parasite might be the culprit.

Now that cases are growing in the U.S., doctors are more likely to suspect Cyclospora and ask more questions about your travel and eating history. If you’ve traveled overseas to areas where the parasite is endemic, or if you tell your provider you've eaten fresh produce in recent days and are having continuous diarrhea, they may be more inclined to order the test.

What is the treatment for cyclosporiasis?

Many people can overcome the infection on their own. But very young children or adults with weakened immune systems may have a difficult time getting rid of the parasite and may need antibiotic treatment with a seven-day course of the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, or Cotrim).

What is causing the Cyclospora outbreak?

Beyond the implicated lettuce, health officials are still investigating where else the parasite might have originated. Most of the cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. in previous years have been traced to people who traveled overseas, became infected, and brought the bug back home. However, health officials are fairly confident that the first people infected in the current outbreak—which the CDC is calling "domestically acquired"—picked up the parasite in the U.S., since the early cases did not report recent travel out of the country.

Where does the Cyclospora parasite come from?

The primary known source of Cyclospora is human feces. Some people who are infected may not experience severe symptoms and might not know they are harboring the parasite. Once they shed the parasite through their feces, Cyclospora needs to remain in the environment for anywhere from one to two weeks before it can become infectious and cause problems for another person who might get infected, according to the FDA. That’s why health officials says it’s important to wash your hands after using the bathroom.

That advice applies to non-U.S. suppliers as well, since the U.S. imports much of its fresh fruits and vegetables from abroad, from places where the parasite is endemic and sanitation standards aren't the same as in the U.S.

But that doesn’t mean U.S. produce is parasite-free. While the FDA conducts random inspections of both imports as well as domestically grown produce for a number of disease-causing pathogens, no system is fail-safe, and some experts suspect that recent budget cuts to nearly every federal agency mean that some of those inspections may be behind.

How can I avoid Cyclospora?

Aside from following the CDC's advice for people in certain states to avoid shredded lettuce from Taco Bell, be aware of the foods most likely to increase your risk, such as raw produce, as investigations continue.

On July 13, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement that in its investigation of more than 2,600 cases, "current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak, although other food items cannot be completely ruled out. No specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source." Typically, Michigan only has 40 to 50 recorded cases a year.

To help reduce the risk of acquiring cyclosporiasis from lettuce, Michigan's health department suggests that people avoid eating bagged or prewashed salads and to buy whole heads of lettuce instead, discarding the outer layers and thoroughly washing the inner leaves.

And always wash your hands after using the bathroom to avoid transferring any microbes to your food or other people.

Andy Burnham, Britain’s incoming Prime Minister, vowed to be a leader “for all” of the U.K. as he formally accepted leadership of the Labour Party on Friday.

The former Greater Manchester mayor, known as the “King of the North,” is set to move into Downing Street on Monday, when he officially takes over from outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking at the special party conference at the Trades Union Congress in London, Burnham said he was ready to “beat Britain’s new right” and called for the dawning of a new political landscape in Britain.

“I am for us, for all of us. And I want people to say once again that Labour are for us,” said Burnham, pointing towards his “for us” campaign slogan from last month’s Makerfield by-election, his victory of which gave him a path back to Downing Street. 

“Change starts with honesty,” Burnham said, pointing to shortcomings across the political spectrum. “We must recognize that this generation of politicians, myself included, have failed to challenge a political culture and an economic model that simply doesn't work well enough for ordinary people.”

Although Burnham has previously introduced his vision for a “No. 10 North” and devolution plans, he has still yet to set out a detailed list of his policies.

Instead, as he formally accepted the Labour premiership, he offered insight into his vision for both the political party and the U.K. as a whole. 

The Labour government has seen a decrease in popularity among the British public, cemented by huge losses at the local polls in May—the fallout of which ultimately led to Starmer resigning as Prime Minister.

Burnham paid tribute to Starmer, thanking him for his service to both party and country, and said he was ready to “build on the foundation” established by his predecessors.

The former mayor’s bid for Labour leadership remained unchallenged, as expected, but his challenges are far from over.

Burnham will become the U.K.’s seventh Prime Minister in 10 years, and experts are already discussing his projected tenure, given that he’s set to confront the same deep-seated economic and structural problems as his predecessors.

Yet Burnham is embracing the challenges and has vowed to give “hope” back to the people.

Here are four key takeaways from his speech:

Burnham calls for "new politics" and vows to end Labour's "insidious briefing culture"

At the core of Burnham’s remarks was a call for instilling “new politics” in the U.K. 

“I will work to build a new politics. The country is crying out for it,” he said. “We might enjoy the ‘point scoring’ against others. The public don’t. How can politicians point fingers when living standards are falling and politics, as a whole, isn’t working for them? It infuriates them and makes them switch off.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, 79% of adults in Great Britain reported in April an increase in their cost of living, despite a climb down in inflation to a current level of 3%.

Encouraging a fresh perspective, Burnham called on his fellow Labour lawmakers to have the “self-confidence to find common ground” with other parties in the hope of making political discourse a “little bit less toxic.”

“I will work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team, because change starts with us,” he continued. “We won't beat Britain's new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions.”

Burnham said eradicating infighting and the “insidious briefing culture that goes along with it” will help characterize his leadership. 

“A united Labour party and Labour movement is the best hope for our country,” he declared.

Downing Street briefings have been criticized by some within the party, including Labour’s Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, who said she had experienced “unpleasant” sessions. According to Powell, Burnham is intent on changing this “boy’s club” culture.

Burnham claims he has not yet made any final decisions on cabinet picks

For weeks, there has been much speculation as to who Burnham will pick to serve in his cabinet.

Current Home Secretary Shabhana Mahmood has reportedly emerged as the front-runner for Chancellor in recent days, ahead of Ed Miliband, who currently serves as the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero and was previously tipped for the role.

The opposition party has been vocal in its disapproval of Miliband potentially becoming Chancellor, and his stance on restricting the extraction of North Sea oil has raised concern internationally. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly lambasted Labour’s approach to North Sea oil and gas production, arguing that Britain is unnecessarily restricting domestic energy supplies.

Burnham, meanwhile, has signaled he isn’t against reconsidering British access to North Sea oil and gas. “I’ve got something of an open mind, you know. I don’t have a sort of fixed position,” he said in early June.

Miliband is likely still being considered for a position, with Foreign Secretary just one option reportedly on the table. Ed’s brother, David, is also among those rumored to be in the running for a new role.

However, Burnham on Friday insisted he has yet to make any final decisions on his cabinet picks.

“Contrary to what you may keep on reading, I haven't made any decisions yet about who will be in that top team, but I will soon,” said Burnham, adding that he wants to “build unity by respecting all shades of opinion” within the party.

Promises to be a pro-business leader

Burnham championed local businesses in his speech, positioning himself as a “pro-business leader” for the country. 

He harked back to his successes during his tenure in Manchester, which include restoring local public ownership of buses and capping single bus fares at £2.

“Make no mistake, everybody, I will be a pro-business leader of the Labour Party, as I was a pro-business mayor of Greater Manchester,” he said. “We turn places round together, and that is the way we ran in Manchester, and we will take [that] to the whole country.” 

Burnham's pledge to working class communities

Serving all socio-economic sectors of the nation is a key part of Burnham’s leadership promise as he prepares to enter Downing Street. 

Burnham said “this country does not work for working-class communities.” 

Pointing towards the policies of the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, Burnham criticized deindustrialization and the privatization of many public services.

“Four decades of the neoliberalism that began in the 1980s, have not been kind to the places that built our party, nor to the communities across the U.K. in rural and coastal areas,” he said, “So we pledge today to them to be better.”

Soon after his Makerfield by-election victory, the new Labour leader vowed to “oversee the biggest council house building programme since the postwar period.”

On Friday, Burnham said, moving forward, lawmakers will need to consider a political culture and an economic model that works for the “ordinary people.”