Walgreens releases first Flu Index of 2015-16 season
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday released its Flu Index — the first one of the 2015-16 flu season — covering the week of Nov. 29. The Index uses data for antiviral medications for treating the flu filled every week and lists the top markets and states by flu activity, as well as the states and markets with the most gains in flu activity.
“With the ability to provide actionable information in a quick and timely manner, and leveraging prescription data that can be a telling indicator of activity, we’re empowering everyone to be informed about flu in their community,” Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations Richard Ashworth said. “The Flu Index has become a powerful and credible tool that has garnered national attention, while also helping health officials at the most local level to keep their communities healthy throughout the season.”
The 10 markets with the most flu activity for the week of Nov. 29 were:
Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
Jackson, Miss.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C.
Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacodoches), Texas
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Houston, Texas
Lexington, Ky.
And the 10 states with the most flu activity were
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Texas
Kentucky
Tennessee
Alabama
Louisiana
Hawaii
Florida
Arkansas
The markets that saw the most gains in flu activity were:
Jackson, Miss.
Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
Huntsville – Decatur (Florence), Ala.
Bakersfield, Calif.
Dayton, Ohio
Tri-Cities, Tenn. – Va.
Portland – Auburn, Maine
Lexington, Ky.
Lansing, Mich.
Roanoke – Lynchburg, Va.
And the states with the most gains in activity were:
Maine
Wyoming
Oregon
West Virginia
Virginia
Connecticut
Washington
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Minnesota
The Flu Index does not include areas where Walgreens has fewer than 10 locations and is not meant measure severity or levels of flu activity, but rather incidence.