AUBURN – Two residents at a local nursing home have confirmed cases of influenza, a spokeswoman said.

Clover Manor is one of two in the state with reported outbreaks, the state’s epidemiologist said.

Cindy Quinlan, administrator at Clover Manor on Minot Avenue, said Tuesday that signs are posted on the doors of two residents’ rooms asking that visitors find a nurse before entering.

A sign on the front doors to the building cautions visitors about the outbreak. All visitors are encouraged to wash their hands well before and after visiting residents and not to visit more than one resident at a time, Quinlan said.

Most of the 250 residents had flu shots this year, Quinlan said. She didn’t know whether the two residents with the flu had gotten shots, she said.

About 65 of 300 workers at the home also were inoculated, Quinlan said. By state law, employees must be offered the shots.

The two residents have Type A influenza, Quinlan said. They are housed in two of the facility’s eight units, she said. Residents are encouraged not to mingle with those housed in other units.

Several Clover Manor residents came down with flu last year also, but recovered, she said.

Russ Donahue, spokesman for St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston, said no outbreaks of influenza have been reported there this season.

“At this point we’ve been able to escape it,” he said.

He attributes that to the fact that more than half of the staff had flu shots, as did most residents, the largest number ever. Families of residents also were offered shots, he said. Some people decline the shots, either on philosophical grounds or for medical reasons, he said.

Of the two types of influenza, Type A is most common, said Dr. Dora Mills, director of the state’s Bureau of Health. It also is a stronger strain, she said.

Mills said the first confirmed case of the season was reported last month. Outbreaks have been steadily on the rise since.

Symptoms often associated with influenza include:

• whole body ache

• fever

• respiratory trouble (coughing, sneezing)

• possible vomiting

The flu often lasts up to a week, but can be treated with fluids and anti-inflammatory drugs. If caught early, anti-viral prescription medications can sometimes shorten the duration of the flu, Mills said.

Groups of people at higher risk from flu include the elderly, pregnant women and children younger than 2 years old.

Sometimes flu can lead to bacterial pneumonia, Mills said.

General protocol at long-term health care facilities when an influenza outbreak occurs, according to Dr. Andrew Pelletier, Maine’s medical epidemiologist, is to first check the immunization coverage of the staff and residents. Washing hands with antibacterial soap or using antibacterial hand gels are essential in keeping the spread of certain bacteria low, as is coughing into a sleeve, preferably at the elbow, to avoid transfer of germs, he said.

At facilities where there is an active outbreak, the state recommends a stricter protocol.

“We’ll recommend that they close the facility to new admissions and we may also ask them to stop voluntary transfers of people leaving the facility,” Pelletier said. “Sometimes, we restrict visitors, or at least warn visitors that an outbreak is going on.”

The flu season this year has been “extremely quiet,” he said. Only two outbreaks, the other one in Topsham, have been reported. Last year, there were nearly 80 outbreaks.

“It’s not unusual for a season to peak in February or March,” Pelletier said.