August 21, 2016 | Health Matters

Zika awareness billboards showing unrolled condom removed

Two billboards in the Fort Lauderdale area meant to educate people about the sexual transmission of the Zika virus have been taken down by the signage company after the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau objected to the depiction of an unrolled condom.

The billboards were posted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. AHF spokesperson Michael Kahane said the billboards were delivering an urgent prevention message. “It’s outrageous. This is a public health issue,” he said. “People need to have as much information as they can possibly have about it.”

Kahane conceded that some people could find the image objectionable but said, "I think public health is more important than someone’s sensibilities being offended.”

There are now over 30 cases of non-travel-related Zika in Florida, centered in Miami’s Wynwood neighbourhood.

While we think taking down the billboards is overkill, surely the AHS should have know better; after all they have been promoting condom use for decades. And a more to the point catch phrase would be: "Zika: yet another reason to use condoms."