The Southern Health Board confirmed yesterday that there have been three cases of confirmed meningitis in Cork city and county over the last number of weeks.
It is understood that the latest casualty is a six-year-old girl from the Blarney area who was taken into hospital last Monday.
The board has warned people to be aware of the symptoms that could be associated with meningitis, including a purple rash on the skin, aversion to bright lights and bouts of vomiting.
Local representatives in Cork have said that while the board's right to the privacy of an individual must be respected, the public also had a right to be warned in due time whenever there was a meningitis outbreak.
Last year in the board's area there were 49 cases of meningitis, 28 of which were unconfirmed, and there were three fatalities.
In Northern Ireland, a woman and a 12-year-old boy have been admitted to hospital suffering from suspected meningitis. It is understood that the 21-year-old female student is being treated for meningococcal septicaemia.
She was taken to the intensive care unit at Craigavon Area Hospital on Monday night. Her condition is described as "ill". The child is also being treated for the meningococcal illness at the town's hospital. His condition in unknown.
Three other children are currently being treated for meningitis in the North. Two are understood to be critical. They are from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, and Antrim town. Both are being treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
A third child from Portglenone was admitted to the Belfast hospital on Monday night. None is believed to be related.