Robert Booy has joined Deborah Knight on Afternoons and is pushing for “simpler” names related to viruses and diseases.

The World Health Organisation is opening up a way for the public to suggest new names for monkeypox.

Local media have detailed a spike in attacks on monkeys using stones or poison in a number of Brazilian cities.

As a result of the name and fear in the number of cases, 10 monkeys have been poisoned or intentionally injured in less than a week.

There have been more than 31,000 cases of the virus identified globally, which is not spread by monkeys but through human-to-human contact.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy told Deborah Knight, the decision has been made in line with best practices for naming diseases.

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