Those diagnosed with Monkeypox may face a 21-day isolation period, an Irish immunologist has said.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that causes fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes.
According to the World Health Organisation, the disease usually occurs in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
Read more: Monkeypox virus: How quickly does it spread and can you die from it?
It begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion and can cause other symptoms such as backache, swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), chills and exhaustion.
Yesterday, the first case of the disease was reported in Northern Ireland. No cases have been confirmed in the Republic yet.
UCC Immunovirology Professor Liam Fanning told Newstalk that the HSE has put an expert group in place to be prepared if the virus lands in the Republic.
He said that anyone who is diagnosed could face three weeks of isolation.
"It will be down to kind of a bit like we had with COVID-19," he said.
“Public health contacting people and isolation.
“I see some countries in Europe have asked that people who are virus positive would quarantine for 21 days and that reflects the kind of natural history of this infection – where individuals can be infectious for that amount of time.”
He said he would not be surprised if a case of the virus is confirmed in the Republic in the coming days and weeks.
Professor Fanning said: "Again, we’ll have to depend on colleagues in public health to advise the individuals who are affected as to what their symptoms might be and those who are close contacts.
“To reach out to them and say look, you know, you need to be aware that these are the possible symptoms and when you start to see little pimples appearing on your body - hands and face particularly and sometimes in the groin - that you need to pick up the phone and contact your health provider or GP.”
However, Professor Fanning emphasised that Monkeypox is a "very containable infection" and the public should not be too concerned.
As of May 25, there are 118 cases of the virus confirmed in Europe.
There are 90 cases in the UK, including one in the North.
Read more: Monkeypox virus: WHO concerned summer could see virus spread
Read more: Monkeypox cases detected in Europe and North America amid outbreak concerns
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