The first case of the monkeypox virus has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.
The infection was reported in the east of the country on Friday night and the person affected was not kept in hospital.
A further suspected case is also being investigated and test results are being awaited, health officials said.
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A public health risk assessment has been undertaken and those who have been in contact with the person are being advised on what to do in the event that they become ill.
A statement from HSE said: "The Health Protection Surveillance Centre was notified last night of a confirmed case of monkeypox in Ireland, in the east of the country."
"This was not unexpected following the presence of monkeypox cases in the UK and many European countries," it added.
"Public Health is following up those who had close contact with the person with monkeypox while they were infectious.
"In order to maintain patient confidentiality, no further information about this person will be provided."
It comes after the first case of monkeypox on the island of Ireland was confirmed earlier this week.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly shared an update on the latest case and said around 200 infections have been reported across Europe so far.
He added that Ireland is expecting a delivery of vaccines for the disease shortly.
"We have a confirmed case as of yesterday in the east of the country," he told the Anton Savage Show on Newstalk.
Minister Donnelly said that the HSE has secured third generation smallpox vaccines which are on their way to Ireland now.
Rather than being deployed, these vaccines will be offered to healthcare staff who may be working with patients who have contracted monkeypox, he said.
There may also be cases where there are "high risk close contacts of a given case who might be given the vaccine".
"However, critically, it's not airborne, it's not something that is easily caught, and so using the normal PPE and the normal procedures that trained clinicians would use, that's the main line of defence," he added.
"For the public health teams in Ireland, the focus is very mich on containing it, and where someone does have a case [of monkeypox], they'll get the very best possible care, they'll be isolated, they're doing contact tracing and all the things you would expect in sensible public health measures."
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