European countries are being warned to act now to try to reduce the risk from the Zika virus.

It is being spread by a particular type of mosquito, which the World Health Organisation says will be present in some European countries as the weather gets warmer.

The WHO says the insects should be killed, and people need to be told more about the infection.

It comes as the HSE confirmed the first cases of Zika virus here, with two people who had travelled to South America treated for the illness.

The HSE says neither of these people is at risk of pregnancy and they are now fully recovered.

Finding cases of the virus here is not unexpected.

The WHO has declared it an international public health emergency and a number of other European countries have also reported cases.

It is normally transmitted through mosquitos, but doctors in the U.S. state of Texas have confirmed one instance of sexual transmission

Dr Tom Frieden is from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: Dr Kevin Kelleher from the HSE says the mosquito responsible for the spread of the disease is not in Ireland:

While the effects of the Zika virus are very mild, it is the link to birth defects in babies that is cause for concern.

Dr Kelleher says there's no vaccine on the horizon for at least three to five years.

But he says there are precautions that should be should be taken:The HSE is also advising anyone who becomes ill within two weeks of travelling to a Zika-affected country to contact their doctor immediately.