The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) has had no reports of monkeypox infection in Galway so far.

So far, some 97 confirmed cases have been notified in Ireland, including 12 new notifications in the week to July 30.

But none of these cases were notified in the HSE’s CHO2 area which includes Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

The latest epidemiology report about human monkeypox was released last week.

All of the 97 notified cases in Ireland are males and have a median age of 36.

The sexual orientation of 75 of the men is known, and they self-identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men.

The HSPC said this epidemiology of the infection is similar to other countries.

A total of ten people have been hospitalised with the infection; four of them required clinical care for monkeypox infection while two were admitted for observation.

The HSE said monkeypox is a very uncommon infection that produces a spotty, itchy and sore rash, and sometimes a fever.

It is caused by a monkeypox virus which is naturally found in some animals in Africa. The HSE said it was in the news now because there have been several thousand cases of monkeypox in countries where the virus is not found naturally, including Ireland.

It is spread through close contact, including sexual contact, but it can be picked up through contact with objects touched by an infected person such as sheets.

Monkeypox symptoms can appear in two stages. The first stage usually begins with a sudden onset of fever and chills, followed by a bad headache, swollen glands and exhaustion. There may also be muscle ache, backache, cough and runny nose, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.  Not everyone with monkeypox has these initial symptoms.

One to three days after the fever starts, an itchy rash appears. It may first appear on the face and spread to other parts of the body. Some people may only have a rash and not initial symptoms.

Anyone with symptoms is asked to contact their GP.