Walgreens Flu Index tracking uptick in activity across the nation

There may have been plenty of cough and cold products in the Christmas stockings of residents in the Lone Star State, as Texas markets continue to top the Walgreens Flu Index list for flu activity, the Deerfield, Ill.-based chain announced Wednesday morning. As many as nine of the top 10 markets exhibiting flu activity were in Texas, though flu incidence may be gaining traction across the nation as gains in flu activity were recorded from San Diego to Lafeyette, La.



With the ability to generate hyper-local data across most U.S. markets, the Flu Index is an online, interactive resource allowing anyone to search and find information regarding the most current state of influenza in their community. The Flu Index provides insight by showing which cities or metropolitan areas are experiencing the most incidences of influenza each week based on Index methodology. The data does not measure actual levels or severity of flu activity



The Walgreens Flu Index  is a weekly report developed to provide state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity, and ranks those states and markets experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country.



The top 10 designated market areas with flu activity for the week ending Dec. 30 were:

1. 
   Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas;


2. 
   Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas;


3. 
   Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas;


4. 
   Houston;


5. 
   Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas;


6. 
   Corpus Christi, Texas;


7. 
   El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);


8. 
   San Antonio;


9. 
   Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas; and


10. 
    Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.

             

For the same week ending Dec. 30 the top 10 DMAs with the greatest flu activity gains were:

1. 
   El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);


2. 
   Des Moines-Ames, Iowa;


3. 
   San Antonio;


4. 
   Montgomery-Selma, Ala.;


5. 
   San Diego;


6. 
   Reno, Nev.;


7. 
   La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.;


8. 
   Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;


9. 
   Lafayette, La.; and


10. 
    Wausau-Rhinelander, Wis.