The brain-eating amoebas of Kerosene Creek
Kerosene Creek is a natural hot spring near Rotorua, on the North Island of New Zealand. And there have been official warnings for years: don’t put your head under water. It turns out that “brain-eating amoebas”, naegleria fowleri, are a real, if rare, thing.
Thank you to Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles! Here are some of the references used for this video:
Bonifield, J. (2019). Fatal brain-eating amoeba may have come from woman’s neti pot. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/07/health/seattle-brain-amoeba-neti-pot-bn/index.html
Hermelingmeier, K., Weber, R., Hellmich, M., Heubach, C., & Mösges, R. (2012). Nasal Irrigation as an Adjunctive Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. American Journal Of Rhinology & Allergy, 26(5), e119-e125. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3787
Piper, K., Foster, H., Susanto, D., Maree, C., Thornton, S., & Cobbs, C. (2018). Fatal Balamuthia mandrillaris brain infection associated with improper nasal lavage. International Journal Of Infectious Diseases, 77, 18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.09.013
Yoder, J., Straif-Bourgeois, S., Roy, S., Moore, T., Visvesvara, G., & Ratard, R. et al. (2012). Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis Deaths Associated With Sinus Irrigation Using Contaminated Tap Water. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 55(9), e79-e85. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis626
Edited by Michelle Martin https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux
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@TomScottGo
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I checked, and "amoebas" and "amoebae" are both valid plurals for "amoeba".
@rhettorical
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Nagleria was the cause of the House MD episode "Euphoria", if you want to see a dramatized example of what it can do.
@fabianleon7958
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Perspective
@xenihumiwat3627
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
came here just for that one comment
@dianaarroyo4189
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Love that I’m watching this after just getting back from New Zealand and having swam here. 🙃
@MatiuPHDM
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
So cool that i’m going here soon
@JaredtheRabbit
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I ain’t going anywhere near there!
@phillby2025
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I had a brain eating amoeba about 35 years ago. I’m okay – I quickly divorced her…
@ayaanz350
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Thanks Tom, saved me from a last minute presentation in applied microbial systems class
@Hackermanfromindia
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Lose of smell? Never heard of that as a common symptom, maybe later in the development of the infection.
@mykesunnyvale
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
It can happen at any hot pools with sufa including parakai hot pools
@TheManInTheMatrix
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
i had an amoeba once, poor fella died of hunger.
@wyskass861
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Don't tell RFK Jr. about this.
@Redblox-hlz
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Dont Swim On That Ocean You Will Die A Few Weeks.
@Happypuppyz
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
There is so many lakes to go to why would you go to one with creatures that eat your brain
@mdyeasinarafatnitul6985
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
2:11Wait is that really true
Yes it is true😮😢 he is my husband he would never die he said but he is actually my husband
@mdyeasinarafatnitul6985
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
That really true
Yes it is true 😢
@mdyeasinarafatnitul6985
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
He is my favourite youtuber I don't think people anyways what was I talking about again
@mdyeasinarafatnitul6985
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
@mdyeasinarafatnitul6985
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Wait did he really die
@evanparker3586
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
who tf even bathes in water that has a brain eating anything???
@SorakaOTP462
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
0:12 – this is an OBVIOUS green screen. There's no possible way any of you think he's in the same area as this waterfall.
@frogg7710
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
So many pools and lakes and waterfalls, why would you go to the one that could kill you 😭
@ArlcenSean
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I go to this vid jsfor fischX
@ijrazor_TTV
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Had a brain – eating amboe once. Poor fella died hungry
@kulupona
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Siouxsie is one of the coolest names I've ever seen XD
@Redzilla34
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Fishx is a legend he actually got into Zdak shorts
@AdritPlayzRoblox
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I too also had brain eating amoeba once, poor fella died of hungry 😔
@jrgarza1964
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
They need to do more research over there… there is a strong type of antibiotics that actually works.
@Dutchy1899
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Me and fisch have something commongj
@Kris-m4e
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
whos here because of the died of hungry comment
@Timsockjr
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
1:02 you know what else is massive
@Bentleyadventure
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Can you get it from the air
@Tomatothomas6
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I mghit jmup ni adn sinff, tehy wnot eta anyhtign, hety wton fidn anthubinf
@Theguywholikesred
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
fishx comment is comedy
@poo110
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
still water those who kn🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀😲😲😲😊
@raigquitter
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
fischX
@suptommy9011
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Ive swam here under the water at kerosene creek so many time yet i never knew.
Im never going back again
@Gyatmaster
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Poor fella died of hungary 😔
Comments are closed.