The Southern Health Board has been notified of three unconfirmed cases of meningococcal disease in the Cork area.
The board says the cases are unconnected and that all three patients are "doing fine". But it is advising the public to be alert to the signs and symptoms of the infection, including headache, fever, vomiting, drowsiness and confusion.
An aversion to bright light and a rash of red/purple spots are other symptoms of the disease. Parents of babies should be vigilant if the child is refusing feeds or vomiting, is fretful, is difficult to wake or is moaning or crying at a high pitch.
The board advises that all of the above symptoms may not show at once and their manifestation is not a reason to be unduly alarmed.
The board stresses that meningococcal disease is not very infectious and that only very close family contact and kissing puts people at increased risk of contracting the disease from a patient. Prompt treatment usually leads to complete recovery.