Walgreens Flu Index tracks latest flu activity gains across South Atlantic states

DEERFIELD, Ill.— Parts of the South Atlantic are heating up in terms of flu, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index heat map released Wednesday. Significant flu activity gains are being reported across North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia, Walgreens noted.

By market, the top 10 regions experiencing flu activity gains for the week of Feb. 19 are:

1. 
   Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C.;


2. 
   Tri-Cities, Tenn.-Va.;


3. 
   Shreveport, La.;


4. 
   Lexington, Ky.;


5. 
   Salisbury, Md.;


6. 
   Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.;


7. 
   Raleigh-Durham (Fayetteville), N.C.;


8. 
   Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas;


9. 
   Charlotte, N.C.; and


10. 
    Montgomery-Selma, Ala.

According to the Index, the top 10 markets currently experiencing high incidence of flu for the week of Feb. 19 are:

1. 
   Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas;


2. 
   Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas;


3. 
   Oklahoma City;


4. 
   Corpus Christi, Texas;


5. 
   Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.;


6. 
   Tri-Cities, Tenn.-Va.;


7. 
   Shreveport, La.;


8. 
   Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C.;


9. 
   Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas; and


10. 
    Tulsa, Okla.

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