Texas continues to hold top spot for flu activity

The latest has been reported upon in Walgreens Flu Index. The weekly report which was developed to provide state and market-specific information regarding flu activity has all signs pointing to Texas once again.

For the second week in a row, The Flu Index is reporting that the Lone Star state is holding the top spot for flu activity for the week ending Dec. 16.

The Walgreens Flu Index is compiled using weekly retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide, including Walgreens locations in Puerto Rico. The data is analyzed at a 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.

For the week ending Dec.16, the top 10 designated market areas with flu activity were:

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


2. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas


3. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas


4. Houston, Texas


5. Corpus Christi, Texas


6. Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.


7. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas


8. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas


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


10. Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.

For the same time period, the top 10 DMAs with the greatest gains in flu activity were:

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


2. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas


3. Houston, Texas


4. Corpus Christi, Texas


5. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas


6. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas


7. Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.


8. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas


9. San Antonio, Texas


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