A highly contagious stomach bug has spread to upstate New York, authorities warn.

The bug, known as Shigella, can cause fever, severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and abdominal pain.

At least 60 cases of Shigella have been confirmed in Rockland County, 17 of them this month.

Although anyone can catch the bug, Shigella is most typically seen in young children.

Students in Ramapo School District make up the majority of Rockland County’s cases.

The New York City Department of Health warned New Yorkers of a Shigella outbreak in Borough Park in Brooklyn and in parts of Williamsburg, NBC reports.

Officials recommend washing hands frequently to prevent diseases from spreading.

Shigella is typically a mild infection that most people are able to recover from on their own.

(Shalom Begin – YWN)