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The Fox News host also gave viewers a CDC number so they can tell the agency monkeypox's "new name." About 5,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the U.S.
Right-wing Fox News host Tucker Carlson revealed the results of a Twitter poll he conducted on renaming monkeypox: "schlong covid."
The virus, also known as MPV, is now considered a global health emergency by the U.N's World Health Organization. MPV is known to cause fever, muscle aches, and rashes, among other symptoms.
Carlson made the announcement on his show Tucker Carlson Tonight, Mediaite reports. As the website notes, there's been a push to change the name of the virus because of the stigmas associated with it as well as anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and racism.
The current MPV outbreak has mostly affected men who have sex with men. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier this week that 98 percent of global MPV cases confirmed since May have been among men who have sex with men. The virus does not only affect men, however.
In the segment, Carlson says, "So monkeypox is about the coolest name ever for a disease...but they are changing the name because of racism or something."
"We're not going to allow it. We're going to change the name this time," he continues.
Carlson then announces the results of the poll and tells his audience they should call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and let director Rochelle Walensky "know."
\u201cWhat should we rename monkeypox?\n@DrTedros @CDCDirector\u201d— Tucker Carlson (@Tucker Carlson) 1659054794
He also gives his audience a CDC number so they can do so. "Wait for the prompt on monkeypox and make your voice heard because it's still a democracy," he directs.
About 5,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the U.S., according to the CDC. On Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it will allow 786,000 additional doses of a monkeypox vaccine to be distributed across the U.S.
"In addition to transmission through sexual contact, monkeypox can also be spread in households through close contact between people, such as hugging and kissing, and on contaminated towels or bedding," the WHO's Tedros said Wednesday. He added that stigma and discrimination around MPV would only contribute to the outbreak.
