India has issued a health alert after infections and deaths caused by a rare water-borne "brain-eating" amoeba doubled compared to last year in the southern state of Kerala.

Kerala health authorities are on alert after a spike in cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection with a high fatality rate.

Kerala’s tropical weather, with high humidity and rising temperatures, creates an ideal environment for the amoeba to thrive in water sources.