The virus causes a mild flu-like illness and bumps to appear on the skin.
It's only a matter of time before monkeypox arrives to Ireland, according to a tropical disease expert.
The HSE has confirmed it's formed a group of experts to assess the disease and prepare a response.
The virus, which has existed in West Africa for years, causes a mild flu-like illness and bumps to appear on the skin - similar to chicken pox.
Director of the Tropical Medical Bureau at Travel Health Clinics, Dr Graham Fry, expects it to crop up in Ireland soon: