DEERFIELD, Ill. — The heaviest concentration of flu activity for the week beginning Feb. 2 is in the South Central United States, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index report. Oklahoma and Arkansas also experienced the most gain in flu activity between Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. Flu activity is also picking up across the Northeast, including New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The top 10 designated market areas with flu activity for the week beginning Feb. 2:
Oklahoma City;
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, NM);
Tulsa, Okla.;
San Antonio;
Little Rock – Pine Bluff, Ark.;
Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.;
Austin, Texas;
Jackson, Miss.;
Harlingen–Weslaco–Brownsville–McAllen, Texas; and
Knoxville, Tenn.
The top 10 DMAs by flu activity gains from the week beginning Jan. 26 through Feb. 2:
Ft. Smith–Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, Ark.;
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, NM);
Jackson, Miss.;
Oklahoma City;
Huntsville–Decatur (Florence), Ala.;
Tulsa, Okla.;
Little Rock–Pine Bluff, Ark.;
Providence, R.I. – New Bedford, Mass.;
Wichita-Hutchinson, Kan.; and
Boston, Mass. (Manchester, N.H.).
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. With the ability to generate hyper-local data that is as specific as a single zip code, the Index aims to drive consumer awareness and prevention within communities, while also serving as a valuable resource for health departments, media and others at the local level.