Members of One Direction Fear Koala Chlamydia Infection
Members of the U.K. boy band One Direction are distressed and fearful after a recent trip to Australia put them at risk of catching chlamydia.
Liam Payne and Harry Styles, who were in Australia on tour with their band members, cuddled up to a 3-year-old Koala named Kat who unexpectedly urinated on both of them. Ultimately, this is a health hazard, according to The Sun U.K.
"I'm genuinely scared. This is worrying. I'd have never picked the thing up if I'd known!" a worried Payne told the Sun.
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It is believed that around 80 percent of Koalas have chlamydia, which is a sexually transmitted disease whose effects include severe conjunctivitis, incontinence, prostatitis and kidney damage.
While transmission from the cuddly creatures to humans is unlikely, some Koalas have a specific strain of chlamydia that can be passed to other species. Fortunately, chances that the 18-year-old singers contracted the disease are very slim, and in the worst case scenario it is said to be treatable.
One Direction recently made headlines after it was revealed that a U.S. boy band with the exact same name is suing the U.K. band for $1 million, alleging that the 5-member British group stole their name, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Sony Music and producer Simon Cowell's record label, Syco Entertainment, were hit with a million dollar lawsuit which alleges that the popular U.K. band is creating confusion and ultimately diminishing the U.S. One Direction band's credibility.
The U.S.-based One Direction claims that it was formed at least two years ago, and accuses the U.K.'s One Direction of pursuing its group name even after discovering that the name was already taken.
"Rather than change their name ... they chose to press ahead and come on their tour," the plaintiffs' attorney, Peter Ross, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The U.K. One Direction band has become increasingly popular in both the U.K. and the U.S. and the group's debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful," peaked at no. 1 in the U.K. music charts just one week after its release and also won a BRIT award for Best British Single in 2012.
On April 6, tickets to the U.K. One Direction's show at Madison Square Garden sold out in less than one minute, according to Hollywood Life.
