Two people who tested positive for monkeypox in Ireland were hospitalised for clinical care, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
In its latest weekly update on the monkeypox virus, the HPSC said there have been 14 confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic, as of June 15th.
All confirmed cases have been reported in men, ranging in age from 32-years-old to 46-years-old. The median age is 37.
All cases self-identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), it added.
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For each case, public health is following up with those who had close contact with the case while they were infectious.
Public health risk assessments have been undertaken, and those who were in contact with the cases are being advised on what to do in the event that they become ill.
Given the increasing number of cases detected internationally, further cases are expected to be seen in Ireland in the coming weeks, the HPSC said.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkeypox virus, which is found in some animal populations in remote parts of central and west Africa, and in the past has caused occasional limited outbreaks in local communities and travellers.
The cases being reported across multiple countries now are unusual because most of the cases do not have a link to travel to these parts of Africa. As of Wednesday, 1,882 cases had been identified worldwide since May 16th.
There are two types of monkey pox: West African monkeypox and Congo Basin monkeypox. It is the milder, West African, type that is causing the current outbreak.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact, including contact with the skin rash of someone with the virus. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk of infection – this includes household members, sexual partners and healthcare workers.
However, the HPSC said the risk of spread within the community in general, is very low.
It is usually a self-limiting illness, with most people recovering within weeks, although severe illness can occur in people with very weak immune systems, pregnant women and in very small babies.
“Severe illness and death outside Africa are unlikely,” the HPSC said.
Monkeypox rashes can resemble some sexually-transmitted diseases, including herpes and syphilis, which may explain why many of the initial cases were picked up at sexual health clinics, the HPSC added.
Anyone, regardless of their sexuality, can get monkey pox, however many of the confirmed cases are in gbMSM.
“The reason we are currently hearing more reports of cases of monkey pox in gbMSM communities may be because of positive health seeking behaviour in this community and increased awareness since this outbreak was alerted to the public and to healthcare workers across the world,” the HPSC said.
“As the virus spreads through close contact, the HSE is advising those who self-identify as gbMSM – especially if they have undertaken international travel in the past month – to be alert to any unusual rashes or vesicular lesions on any part of their, or their partner’s body, especially their genitalia.”
