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:

1. 
   Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas


2. 
   Jackson, Miss.


3. 
   Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.


4. 
   Knoxville, Tenn.


5. 
   Oklahoma City, Okla.


6. 
   Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C.


7. 
   Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacodoches), Texas


8. 
   El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)


9. 
   Houston, Texas


10. 
    Lexington, Ky.

And the 10 states with the most flu activity were

1. 
   Mississippi


2. 
   Oklahoma


3. 
   Texas


4. 
   Kentucky


5. 
   Tennessee


6. 
   Alabama


7. 
   Louisiana


8. 
   Hawaii


9. 
   Florida


10. 
    Arkansas

The markets that saw the most gains in flu activity were: 

1. 
   Jackson, Miss.


2. 
   Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.


3. 
   Huntsville – Decatur (Florence), Ala.


4. 
   Bakersfield, Calif.


5. 
   Dayton, Ohio


6. 
   Tri-Cities, Tenn. – Va.


7. 
   Portland – Auburn, Maine


8. 
   Lexington, Ky.


9. 
   Lansing, Mich.


10. 
    Roanoke – Lynchburg, Va. 

And the states with the most gains in activity were:

1. 
   Maine


2. 
   Wyoming


3. 
   Oregon


4. 
   West Virginia


5. 
   Virginia


6. 
   Connecticut


7. 
   Washington


8. 
   Massachusetts


9. 
   Mississippi


10. 
    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.