Flu levels remain high across southern and western U.S., Walgreens Flu Index finds
DEERFIELD, Ill. - The level of flu continues to be high across Arizona, Texas and Mississippi, according to the lateset Walgreens Flu Index released Thursday. Looking forward, for the week of Feb. 28 the top three states experiencing the greatest flu activity gains included Mississippi, Kentucky and South Carolina.
The Walgreens 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.
For the week of Feb. 28, the top 10 markets as measured by flu activity were:
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Harlingen – Weslaco – Brownsville – McAllen, Texas;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Memphis, Tenn.;
Charleston, S.C.;
Columbus – Tupelo – West Point – Houston, Miss.;
Beaumont – Port Arthur, Texas;
Tucson (Sierra Vista), Ariz.;
Myrtle Beach – Florence, S.C.; and
Louisville, Ky.
The top 10 markets as measured by flu activity gains were:
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Columbus – Tupelo – West Point – Houston, Miss.;
Louisville, Ky.;
Charleston, S.C.;
Memphis, Tenn.;
South Bend – Elkhart, Ind.;
Waco – Temple – Bryan, Texas;
Chattanooga, Tenn.;
Colorado Springs – Pueblo, Colo.; and
Columbia, S.C.
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.