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From April 27 to May 8, the Frederick County Health Department spent $45,000 to fight the onslaught of H1N1 influenza, also known as the swine flu, according to the county's health officer.

Most of the money went to overtime costs paid to health department employees who worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, getting the latest information on the virus from state and federal health agencies and planning how best to fight the illness.

Another $1,000 was spent on a laminated informational sign and to pay employees manning a special hotline set up to answer questions.

"I think that the costs are reflective of responding to a public health emergency," said Dr. Barbara A. Brookmyer, the county's health officer, in an interview Monday. "Some of our normal activities were enhanced during this major response period."

Since the flu has so far turned out to be milder than health experts predicted, Frederick County's health department has resumed its normal work schedule, Brookmyer said.

This means that department officials are not taking extra measures despite the fact that a Frederick County woman was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu on June 25. Brookmyer held a press conference that afternoon to announce the news.

The woman, who officials did not identify, went to Frederick Memorial Hospital June 22 complaining of flu-like symptoms, according to Gail Sonnenberg, the hospital's infection control practitioner.

"She came into the emergency room, and doctors immediately took measures to isolate that person," Sonnenberg said at the press conference.

Within an hour of her arrival at the hospital, doctors diagnosed her condition. During her stay she remained in isolation, Sonnenberg said. The patient was expected to fully recover.

"This is not a surprise that we have finally had a confirmed case in Frederick County," Brookmyer said. "We suspect there are other cases in the county that have not been tested in a laboratory. We're not alarmed by the information."

Brookmyer urged residents to continue practicing basic flu protection and prevention measures, including washing your hands often and using hand-sanitizer gel; covering a cough with your sleeve and not with your hand; and staying at home when sick.

"We know that these things do prevent the spread of the illness," she said.

Brookmyer did not know where the Frederick County woman contracted the virus.

"The fact that we do have a laboratory-confirmed case doesn't mean there have not been other cases out there," she said. "I suspect we have had many cases in Frederick County."

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.

To find out more information about the "swine flu," go to the Frederick County Health Department's Web site: www.co.frederick.md.us/h1n1flu.