48 cases of the intestinal infection cyclospora reported in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, July 19 (UPI) -- Forty-eight new cases of the intestinal infection cyclospora were reported in Texas in the past week, but officials say they don't know the source.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a health advisory warning residents of the infection -- mostly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area -- and warned them to thoroughly rinse fruit and vegetables several times before consuming because the infection is caused by food or water contaminated with feces, CNN reported.

The Texas agency did not confirm whether the latest reports of cyclospora were produce-related, but said in a statement that the cyclospora outbreak might be related to infection in Iowa and Nebraska.

The infection is not considered highly contagious because it must pass in bowel movements before it can spread to others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"To decrease the risk of eating fresh produce it is important to thoroughly rinse your fruits and vegetables several times," Dr. Christopher Perkins, the Texas department's medical director, said in a statement.