Walgreens Flu Index heat map indicates high flu incidence across America
DEERFIELD, Ill. - This week's Walgreens Flu Index report for the week of March 6 indicated Arizona, Mississippi and Texas were the top three states experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country. And while Mississippi topped the list in greatest flu activity gains as well, flu incidence appears to be gaining significantly in Kentucky and Hawaai as well.
For the week of March 6, the top 10 markets with flu activity were:
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Memphis, Tenn.;
Harlingen – Weslaco – Brownsville – McAllen, Texas;
Columbus – Tupelo – West Point – Houston, Miss.;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Louisville, Ky.
Beaumont – Port Arthur, Texas;
Charleston, S.C.;
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas; and
Houston.
The top 10 markets as measured by flu activity gains according to Index methodology were:
Columbus – Tupelo – West Point – Houston, Miss.;
Louisville, Ky.;
La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.;
Corpus Christie, Texas;
Beaumont – Port Arthur, Texas;
Houston;
Memphis, Tenn.;
Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island-Moline, Ill.;
Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Neb.; and
Montgomery-Selma, Ala.
According to the company, 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.
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.