India, Sept. 21 -- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday raised concern over the increasing number of amoebic meningoencephalitis cases in Kerala, urging the public to avoid swimming in untreated freshwater sources.

Tharoor described the outbreak as alarming, saying, "It is a very sad story. A lot of people have caught this fatal virus by swimming in the freshwater." He was speaking with news agency ANI when he said, "It seems very dangerous. Some doctors are advising people not to swim in fresh water until some other solution can be found."

The alert was issued as Kerala's health authorities remain on high alert following 19 deaths from the Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly brain infection triggered by the Nae...