Local clinic to hold H1N1 workshop today

At least 10 of Dr. Satnam Bhondi’s patients in Brownsville this month tested positive for the flu. Dozens more came in with influenza-like symptoms — and all had questions about the H1N1 virus.

Should I get tested for the flu? What vaccines are available? What is the difference between the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine? And what can I do to prevent other family members from getting sick?

Bhondi had so many of these kinds of questions, he said, he and the J.K. Medical Clinic decided to organize a bilingual workshop on the flu for the public. The community event will be hosted from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at the Brownsville Police Department substation in west Brownsville.

Other health care providers, such Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville and Valley Regional Medical Center, are also expected to participate in the workshop, which will give people an overview of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, vaccine availability, flu prevention tips and flu treatment options.

On average, about 36,000 people die every year and another 200,000 are hospitalized because of the seasonal flu or complications from the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Through the workshop, Bhondi hopes to educate the public and prevent future deaths, he said. Many of his patients have come in with questions about vaccinations, he said.

“Vaccination is your choice,” Bhondi said. “We recommend you take it but make an informed decision.”

This year’s flu season started earlier than usual and health officials expect it to be worse because of the new H1N1 flu virus that began spreading like wildfire in the spring. Visits to doctors for flu-like illness are at the same level or higher than what is seen at the peak of typical flu seasons in January or February, while flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are above what’s expected for this time of the year and are going up, according to the CDC.

Nationwide, flu activity has been escalating in the last few weeks and is now widespread in 46 states, the CDC reported. People who have a combination of flu symptoms or even just fever should be tested for the flu, Bhondi said.

The worst thing to do is wait until it is too late, he said.

“People try to wait it out, but they should not,” he said. “They should get tested.”