Australian radio host Kyle Sandilands has come under fire after making homophobic comments about monkeypox, fearing he would catch what he described as "the big gay disease".
On Tuesday (local time) on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM, Sandilands made numerous remarks about monkeypox and how "it's only the gays getting it".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported listeners were gobsmacked after the radio host continuously made comments about "not letting any gays near" his newborn son out of fear of catching monkeypox.
On the breakfast show, Sandilands kept harping on about how the virus was "the big gay disease", before he called someone who was gay and asked him if he was afraid of getting monkeypox and asked if he had "seen the dirty scabs that everyone gets".
Sandilands went on to say he was worried he would get the diseases from his colleagues that were homosexual.
"I'm putting my life in the gays' hands as well," he said on the show.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Australia's peak LGBTQ health body, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, found the radio host's comments "deeply unhelpful".
"Right now, thousands of gay and bisexual men are doing the right thing by monitoring for monkeypox symptoms, to look after their health and that of their partners. Over the next few months, we will be asking these men to come forward to be vaccinated.
"When people hear segments such as this, it inflames stigma and deters people from visiting healthcare clinics to be tested and vaccinated.
"We would be very happy to provide a private briefing for Mr Sandilands so that he can play a constructive role in the national monkeypox response."
!["Urgent action to prepare for and prevent the escalation of MPX [monkeypox] cases in Aotearoa New Zealand."](https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/08/health-advocates-plead-for-urgent-action-to-counter-monkeypox-threat-to-aotearoa/_jcr_content/par/video/image.dynimg.1080.q40.jpg/v1659594853248/Monkeypox_Reuters_1120.jpg)
The World Health Organisation declared the monkeypox epidemic a global health emergency in July 2022.
Reuters reported there are currently 46,300 confirmed cases of the virus globally.
Earlier this week the New Zealand Government secured monkeypox medicine which is set to be available in late September.
"I'm pleased we've been able to secure 504 courses of the monkeypox medicine tecovirimat. This medicine will be free and used to treat those who become unwell with MPX," Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall said in a statement.
"While New Zealand doesn't currently have any active cases of MPX, and the risk of widespread transmission is low, it is important we are prepared.
"Sometimes people with the virus experience painful lesions and some people may require hospital-level care. This medicine will help those people."
In New Zealand, there have been four confirmed cases of monkeypox with the latest infection announced on August 11.
