The director of the Irish Tropical Medical Bureau has said that he is sure he has treated a case of the Zika virus in Ireland.

He also said however that there is little danger of the virus spreading here..

The illness, which is spread by mosquitoes, is linked to brain defects in babies.

Scientists said that they could have a vaccine available for emergency use in pregnant women before the end of the year.

Dr Graham Fry of the Irish Tropical Medical Bureau said that Ireland's cold and wet climate means we have very few mosquitoes, but he has treated a man with the virus already.

"I had a chap come in about two months ago, who had just come back from Rio," he said.

"He was sick, he was ill, muscle aches and pains etc.

"At present time within Ireland, it's quite hard to get that blood test done.

"Now that's going to change obviously with the current situation, so we didn't actually confirm his diagnosis, but I wouldn't have any doubt it was [Zika]."