A fourth resident has died at a far north Queensland health facility but managers say it is not linked to a deadly flu outbreak.
The spate of illness, including the deaths of three residents in the past fortnight, has forced the Mercy Place nursing home in suburban Cairns into lockdown.
A total of 36 residents and 24 staff at the aged-care facility have become sick.
The majority of people at the home were tested for common viruses, with a "significant proportion" testing positive for influenza B.
Most of those who became sick have since recovered, a spokeswoman for the private facility told AAP.
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Anita Ghose, Mercy Health state manager for Queensland and Western Australia, revealed there had been another death on Monday.
"Unfortunately early this morning a fourth resident from Mercy Place Westcourt passed away," she said.
"The resident did not test positive for influenza B."
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.
