Only a matter of time before monkeypox spreads to Ireland, says expert

"It is unlikely we’d get away with no cases here."

It is only a matter of time before monkeypox spreads to Ireland, an expert has warned. The HSE has assembled a team to respond to the disease. A spokesperson confirmed the team is preparing for Irish cases. They said: "A team has been established to monitor this evolving situation." There have been reports of monkeypox in the UK, multiple European countries, and America too. The HPSC stated, "The vast majority of these cases do not have a travel link to a country where monkeypox is endemic. Most of the recent cases that have been reported in the UK self-identify as gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (gbMSM)." There are currently no monkeypox cases in Ireland. However, Dr. Graham Fry told The Irish Mirror: "This is likely to happen as we have a lot of people coming here from all over the world. “It’s perfectly possible and I would say it is unlikely we’d get away with no cases here. “I would expect it to come here and would be surprised if it didn’t. But I wouldn’t be worried about it. "Generally, people will get through it. I don’t think it’s going to be the next Covid. But it could be a nuisance." Monkeypox is from the same family of viruses like chickenpox and smallpox, but it is not as common. It is not typically common in humans and tends to circulate in certain rodents in Africa. The first symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pains. People may also experience swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. This is then followed by a rash. The rash forms white blisters which eventually crust over. Symptoms can last from 2 to 4 weeks.