Three residents in a far north Queensland aged care facility have died during a flu outbreak.

Key points: Three residents die at Mercy Place aged care facility in Cairns, 36 other residents and 24 staff fall ill with respiratory symptoms since February 14

Three residents die at Mercy Place aged care facility in Cairns, 36 other residents and 24 staff fall ill with respiratory symptoms since February 14 Mercy Place had complied with outbreak guidelines, Queensland Health says

Mercy Place had complied with outbreak guidelines, Queensland Health says Family or friends suffering from a respiratory illness should not visit loved ones in aged care facilities until fully recovered

Another 36 residents and 24 staff at Mercy Place in the Cairns suburb of Westcourt have fallen ill with respiratory symptoms since February 14.

The majority of residents and staff were swabbed for common viruses with a significant proportion testing positive for Influenza B.

The majority have since recovered.

Mercy Health Queensland manager Anita Ghose said Mercy Health immediately tried to contain the infection, using medication, ceasing communal activities, cleaning, and limiting non-essential visits to the home.

Extra staff were brought in as well as specialist senior clinicians, who were flown in from Victoria.

"Mercy Health immediately activated its management control procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents, families and staff," Ms Ghose said.

A sign at the facility reads "standard infection control and precautionary measures are in place" as directed by Queensland Health, and all activities have been suspended.

"In accordance with Queensland Tropical Public Health Services' directions, Mercy Health maintains strict infection control procedures in place until eight days with no further cases, which we anticipate will be in the near future," Ms Ghose said.

"The health and wellbeing of our residents and staff remains our highest priority at all times."

Mercy Health also said a fourth resident died today, but it was not from the flu.

Facility had complied with outbreak guidelines

Queensland Health said it was working closely with the aged care facility.

Dr Richard Gair, from Queensland Health's Tropical Public Health Services, said Mercy Place had complied with guidelines in the wake of the flu outbreak.

"As far as we're aware, they took the necessary measures when they were aware of an outbreak," he said.

"This is a facility for the frail and elderly - in this instance one of the residents was over 100 years of age and that makes them very, very vulnerable."

He said it was unclear how the outbreak started.

"Influenza is a very easily transmitted virus, it's very infectious," he said.

"Anybody coming into an aged care facility who is unwell could've brought that in.

"We regularly get outbreaks of respiratory illness in aged care facilities across the country."

Health Minister Cameron Dick said aged care was overseen by the Commonwealth.

"But from a public health perspective the Queensland Department of Health will always look to assist any aged care or healthcare facility that might need assistance," he said.

"So we're doing that from a public health perspective, working closely with them - if they need assistance we'll provide that."

Outbreaks at other centres

Earlier this year, seven people died at the Herberton Hospital, south-west of Cairns, during a virus outbreak.

A coroner is investigating if they died from human metapneumovirus.

Dr Gair also confirmed there had been a recent human metapneumovirus outbreak at Blue Care's Mareeba Garden Settlement aged care centre.

"We saw several cases of human metapneumovirus - there were no deaths in that outbreak," he said.

He said there was no vaccine for human metapneumovirus, but the flu was preventable.

"The national guidance, the state guidance, is full vaccination of residents and staff at residential facilities, particularly residential facilities for the vulnerable such as aged care, so there should be full vaccination of residents and staff against flu," he said.

Dr Gair advised anyone suffering from a respiratory illness to consider waiting to recover before visiting an aged care facility.

Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy CEO Geoff Rowe said it was good practice to be transparent about what is going on in aged care facilities.

"If there is an outbreak it's really important for people to be upfront to talk about it," he said.

"That's part of managing what's going on internally so that those that might be ill can stay away and not come and visit their loved ones and for those who are in there and who are at risk the appropriate controls can be taken."