Arizona, Texas top Walgreens Flu Index 'most active' list for 2015/2016 season
DEERFIELD, Ill. - With flu activity winding down in the U.S., Walgreens on Friday announced the top markets and states for flu activity for the season, according to its season-ending Walgreens Flu Index examining aggregate prescription data from Nov. 2015 through mid-April 2016.
The states with the highest rates of influenza, according to the Index, were Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Walgreens' top 10 markets with flu activity using aggregate data from Nov. 2015 through mid-April 2016 were:
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.);
Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas;
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas;
Phoenix (Prescott), Ariz.;
Memphis, Tenn.;
Louisville, Ky.;
Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Miss.;
Houston;
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas; and
Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas.
In addition to the top markets for activity, the season-ending Index also shows the bottom 10, suggesting successful prevention efforts in preparation for, and during flu season in these communities, which experienced the lowest levels of influenza.
The 10 markets with the least flu activity using aggregated data were:
Eugene, Ore.;
Pittsburgh;
Toledo, Ohio;
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.;
Portland, Ore.;
Rochester, N.Y.;
Augusta, Ga.- Aiken, S.C.;
Boston, Mass. (Manchester, N.H.);
Cleveland-Akron (Canton), Ohio; and
Bakersfield, Calif.
The Walgreens Flu Index provides state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity, and is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. With the ability to generate hyper-local data, the Index continues to be instrumental in driving consumer awareness and prevention across the United States, while also serving as a tool for health departments, media and others at the local level.
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.