The HSE has said, the second case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Ireland.
A spokesperson said that this “was not unexpected following the presence of monkeypox cases in the UK and many European countries”.
The first case of monkeypox was confirmed in Ireland last Friday in the east of the country.
Public health teams are following up on those who had close contact with the case while they were infectious.
The HSE said: “The vast majority of these cases do not have a travel link to a country where monkeypox is endemic. Many countries have reported that the cases are predominantly, but not exclusively, in men who self-identify as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.
“Monkeypox spreads through close contact, including contact with the skin rash of someone with monkeypox. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes household members, sexual partners, and healthcare workers. The risk of spread within the community, in general, is very low.”
In England, a further 71 cases were identified yesterday – bringing the confirmed UK total to 179.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely monitoring the spread of the disease, the organisation has said it is unlikely monkeypox will become a pandemic.
WHO said 23 countries that have not previously had monkeypox have now reported more than 250 cases.