Health authorities are urging doctors to look out for the potentially deadly soil-borne disease melioidosis following a spike in infections in the wake of recent tropical cyclones and flooding.

Nine cases of melioidosis, including one death, have been reported in Cairns this month after Cyclone Jasper struck the area in December.

This is the highest number of cases in January for Cairns since 2019 and just one shy of the total caseload reported in Queensland for the same period last year.

Townsville is yet to record any melioidosis cases after Cyclone Kirrily made landfall on Friday, but public health officials said clean-up efforts could result in further infections.