A flu outbreak has killed three residents at a Cairns nursing home, which is now in lockdown.

Another deadly virus outbreak at a far north Queensland health facility has killed three residents.

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A flu outbreak has forced the Mercy Place nursing home in suburban Cairns into lockdown.

Three residents have died in the past fortnight, with a total of 36 residents and 24 staff at the aged-care facility falling ill.

The majority of people at the home were tested for common viruses, with a "significant proportion" testing positive for Influenza B.
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Most of those who became sick have since recovered, a spokeswoman for the private facility told AAP.

However, strict control measures will stay in place until eight days pass with no new cases.

A sign at the facility says "all activities and events in the retirement village will be cancelled this week until further notice".

Non-essential visits to the home are banned, while communal areas have been cleaned.

Senior clinicians were flown in from Victoria to treat patients.

The lockdown comes after seven patients died during a respiratory virus outbreak at the Herberton Hospital south of Cairns earlier this year.

Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Richard Gair will address the media about the nursing home deaths at midday on Monday.

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