By Amy Mitchell-Whittington
A fifth person has been diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
Tropical Public Health Services (Cairns) confirmed the meningococcal case on Thursday and have begun tracing patient contacts.
A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman could not provide any information in relation to the patient or detail where or when they had contracted the potentially deadly disease.
The diagnosis comes just days after a fourth child was diagnosed with the disease in Brisbane.
A fifth person has been diagnosed with meningococcal.
A young boy from South Brisbane was admitted to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital with symptoms on December 31, just one day before two siblings and their cousin, all under the age of five, were admitted with symptoms of the disease on Sunday.
The three related children were diagnosed after attending New Year's Eve celebrations with family at South Bank.
A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service statement outlined there was "no increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease in far north Queensland at this time of year" but warned the community to remain vigilant of the signs and symptoms.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease are similar to the flu, and include high fever, a stiff neck, headaches, chills, and a purple rash.
The bacterial infection is spread through saliva from things like coughing, sneezing, and sharing food and drink, and can be fatal if left untreated.
It is understood the Cairns Public Health Unit would follow up and provide antibiotic treatment to close household contacts if required.
There were four confirmed cases of Invasive Meningococcal Disease across the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in 2016, up from zero reported cases in 2015.