Walgreens Flu Index notes gains in Aloha State

For the fifth flu season, the Walgreens Flu Index is tracking flu activity by looking at the chain’s retail prescription data for antiviral flu medications across its locations nationwide. This week, as it does every week, the Index has compiled the top markets and states, as well as the markets and states seeing the most gains in flu activity on a week-over-week basis.

Hawaii topped the list of state gains, with Honolulu taking the second spot on the list of city gains. The El Paso, Texas/Las Cruces, N.M. market topped the list of markets in overall activity, with Nebraska taking the pole position of state activity. The full rankings for the week ended Jan. 5 were:

Top 10 markets with flu activity

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


2. Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Neb.


3. Omaha, Neb.


4. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas


5. Louisville, Ky.


6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas


7. Montgomery-Selma, Ala.


8. Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.


9. Bakersfield, Calif.


10. Chattanooga, Tenn.

Top 10 states with flu activity

1. Nebraska


2. New Mexico


3. Kentucky


4. Texas


5. Tennessee


6. New Jersey


7. Colorado


8. Wyoming


9. Nevada


10. Alabama

Top 10 markets with flu activity gains

1. Bakersfield, Calif.


2. Honolulu, Hawaii


3. Richmond-Petersburg, Va.


4. Syracuse, N.Y.


5. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Miss.


6. Springfield-Holyoke, Mass


7. La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.


8. St. Louis, Mo.


9. Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M.


10. Hartford & New Haven, Conn.

Top 10 states with flu activity gains

1. Hawaii


2. Connecticut


3. Maryland


4. South Dakota


5. California


6. Utah


7. Arkansas


8. Virginia


9. New Mexico


10. Rhode Island

The Walgreens Flu Index also offers a live map that can be accessed here.