The Irish Medicines Board learned last week that a UK resident who donated plasma used in the manufacture of a polio vaccine, was recently diagnosed with variant CJD.
The IMB notified the Department of Health and Children, which consulted experts here and in the United States.
"Expert advice, both national and international, available to the Department of Health and Children indicates that the potential risk, if any, to recipients is essentially non-existent," a briefing document issued yesterday said.
Prof William Hall, director of the Virus Reference Laboratory, added: "It is my view that this is zero risk."
The Minister, Mr Martin, said yesterday's announcement was to reassure the public, who had a right to know and to prevent a "half-cocked" version getting into the media.
In 1998, the EU's Committee on Proprietary and Medicinal Products considered the possibility that albumin used in vaccines and medicines might be derived from plasma donated by a person later diagnosed with variant CJD.
According to Dr Frank Hallinan, director of the Irish Medicines Board, the committee recommended that in such an event the product should be recalled unless there was a compelling reason - such as lack of an alternative - for keeping it on the market.
In January 1998, the IMB wrote to companies supplying the Irish market asking them to stop using products derived from UK donations. Medeva asked for a period of grace to allow it to make the necessary changes and this was granted. The company stopped using products derived from UK donations that November. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children contains albumin, but officials stressed yesterday that it derives from US and Belgian sources.
The helpline numbers for parents who want to know if the vaccine was administered to their children are: Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow: 1800 454500; Midland Health Board: 1800 463646; Mid-Western Health Board: 1800 202255; North Eastern Health Board: 1800 342424; North Western Health Board: 1800 200710; Southern Health Board: 1800 742000; South Eastern Health Board: 1800 300654; Western Health Board: 1800 201220.