The first case of the monkeypox virus has been detected in the Republic of Ireland.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the case in the East of the country was detected by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre yesterday.
According to RTÉ, the person who contracted monkeypox in the Republic has not been hospitalised, while another suspected case of the virus is being investigated.
Minister Donnelly says despite the increasing number of cases across the continent, the HSE has secured a vaccine.
"Thankfully a very small number of people with the monkeypox virus have been hospitalised and I am being advised that is where people had underlying conditions or were immunocompromised.
"What the HSE has secured, is what is called a third-generation small-pox vaccine and that is on its way into the country now," he says.
It comes as Northern Ireland reported a case of the viral infection on Thursday, and around 200 cases in total have been recorded in Europe.
