Walgreens captures early indications that flu season has arrived
DEERFIELD, Ill. - To date, the cough, cold and flu season of 2015/2016 has been lackluster at best. But the season may finally be kicking into high gear, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index, a heat map showing the progression of flu incidence, released Thursday.
While activity remains relatively low across most of the U.S., The Walgreens Flu Index data continues to suggest slight increases in flu activity in a number of markets, including Las Vegas and several markets in the deep South.
For the week of Jan. 3, Walgreens' top 10 markets with flu activity were:
Harlingen – Weslaco-Brownsville – McAllen, Texas;
Las Vegas;
Miami – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.;
Oklahoma City;
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruses, N.M.);
Beaumont – Port Arthur, Texas;
Montgomery – Selma, Ala.;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Knoxville, Tenn.; and
Louisville, Ky.
The top 10 markets as measured by flu activity gains were:
Beaumont – Port Arthur, Texas;
Bakersfield, Calif.;
Monterey – Salinas, Calif.;
Las Vegas;
Louisville, Ky.;
Los Angeles;
Raleigh – Durham (Fayetteville), N.C.;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Tri-Cities, Tenn. – Va.; and
Flint – Saginaw – Bay City, Mich.
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.