Health officials in Belfast are expecting to get test results back later on a patient being examined for the deadly coronavirus.
Officials in China say the death toll in the outbreak has risen to 25, with 830 confirmed cases.
Chinese New Year celebrations will increase travel volume to and from China, increasing the likelihood of arrival of cases in the EU.
The HSE says it's a rapidly evolving situation and that it's prepared to handle a case should it arise in Ireland.
It's advising anyone who has travelled from the city of Wuhan in China in the past two weeks and develops cold-like symptoms to call their GP, and not arrive at an emergency department unannounced.
