In an article published in NBC News, experts expressed concern that discrimination against gay and bisexual men could worsen the current mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Historically, the mpox virus in the region was acquired primarily through contact with infected animals. However, in November 2023, researchers discovered—for the first time—that the virus was spreading via sexual interactions. The experts stressed that stigma against gay and bisexual men could discourage individuals from reporting their symptoms and lead to gaps in monitoring the disease’s transmission. Although vaccination programs were successful at reducing infections in other countries during the international mpox outbreak of 2022, stigma may also prevent infected individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from seeking vaccines. Further, with no licensed vaccine available in the country, efforts to secure enough vaccines for a public vaccination program have been challenging and have not been prioritized over other competing health issues. Public health officials have also found that health-care providers in the country have little awareness of the ability of the mpox virus to spread through sexual contact. The experts concluded that the Democratic Republic of the Congo may need to strengthen its monitoring, laboratory networks, and diagnostic supplies to better mitigate the current mpox outbreak and inhibit the virus from spreading to other countries.