Broadcasters boycott syphilis ad

Los Angeles health chiefs are having trouble finding a TV station willing to air a public service announcement about syphilis that employs a lumpy, red cartoon character named “Phil the Sore”.

Los Angeles-area broadcasters said the ad is in poor taste, but the county health agency said it was simply trying to reach gay men – the group at greatest risk from the sexually-transmitted disease, which has been on the rise in recent years.