PARIS – The Oxford County commissioners received an update on swine flu during their meeting on Tuesday.

MaryAnn Amrich, public health liaison with the Maine Center for Disease Control, presented the overview of the first two weeks of Maine’s response provided by Maine CDC Director Dora Anne Mills.

“People have a right to know what’s going on, and I think they respond better when they do,” Amrich said.

She said the state agency received notice of the virus from the United States CDC on April 23 and began working to minimize the impact the virus could have on Maine. The first cases in the state were detected on April 29.

Amrich said 25 percent of Maine’s share of flu treatments and gear has been distributed to nine hospitals. The stockpile included 50,000 antiviral treatments, 57,000 masks, 57,500 gloves, 115,830 respirators, 3,400 surgical gowns and 3,648 disposable face shields.

In addition, a Maine antiviral stockpile has been created, with at least 27,000 doses made available. The state CDC has also tested about 1,200 samples for influenza, fielded thousands of phone calls and provided regular updates on the virus through its Web site.

Amrich said the CDC is expecting a lull in the virus during the summer, but may see an increase in cases in the fall, coupled with seasonal flu. She said efforts have been made to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, and people have to receive up to three flu vaccinations in the fall.

The report stated that the state CDC has identified 13 cases of H1N1 virus in Maine, none of which were in Oxford County. On Tuesday, the center announced that the number of confirmed or probable cases had been reduced to nine. Of the five adults and four youths affected, all are recovering.

The flu is a respiratory disease in pigs that has been found to be spreading in humans since late March. Its symptoms are similar to regular human flu, and range in severity. The flu has been reported in 47 states and the District of Columbia, with 5,469 confirmed or probable cases.

The state CDC has urged measures such as washing your hands and avoiding contact with sick people to decrease the risk of infection.