Flu incidence continues progression toward 'high' status, Walgreens Flu Index finds
DEERFIELD, Ill. - More and more, the Walgreens Flu Index map is steadily progressing from green, to yellow and orange as this year's flu season picks up in intensity.
While flu activity remains relatively low across most of the U.S., The Walgreens Flu Index data is tracking increased flu activity in the South and West regions. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they have seen an increase of flu cases in recent weeks and recommend everyone over the age of six months get their flu shot as flu typically peaks in February.
The top 10 markets currently experiencing the greatest levels of flu incidence as of the week of Feb. 7 were:
Harlingen – Weslaco - Brownsville – McAllen, Texas;
Tallahassee, Fla. – Thomasville, Ga.;
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Tucson (Sierra Vista), Ariz.;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Miami – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.;
Tyler – Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas;
Memphis, Tenn.;
Orlando – Daytona Beach – Melbourne, Fla.; and
Dallas – Ft. Worth, Texas.
The top 10 markets as measured in flu activity gains for the week of Feb. 7 were:
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Harlingen – Weslaco – Brownsville – McAllen, Texas;
Tucson (Sierra Vista), Ariz.;
Rockford, Ill.;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Monterey – Salinas, Calif.;
Tyler – Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas;
Yakima – Pasco – Richland – Kennewick, Wash.;
Myrtle Beach – Florence, S.C.; and
Miami – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
The Walgreens Flu Index is a weekly report developed to provide state- and market-specific information, and ranking of those experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country. The Flu Index does not provide data measuring actual levels or severity of flu activity, but rather, illustrates which populations are experiencing the most incidences each week based on Index methodology
The Walgreens Flu Index is compiled using weekly retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. The data is analyzed at state and geographic market levels to measure absolute impact and incremental change of antiviral medications on a per store average basis, and does not include markets in which Walgreens has fewer than 10 retail locations.