As cyclosporiasis continues to rise across the country, Connecticut is reporting 68 active cases with many reported in the Western part of the state.

Health experts say it can take 12 days for symptoms to appear. 

Many of the Connecticut patients reported they recently traveled abroad. 

State and local officials say the CDC lab is backlogged, so they don't know if local cases are connected to nationwide reports.

"We know food does not see state borders and we know that people do not only see state borders. People are traveling all the time. We need federal coordination to get to the root of where the connections are – from one patient in one state, to another in another state,” said Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani with the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Health officials are urging residents to shop locally, like at farms and farmer's markets which provide safer and more reliable produce.