Walgreens Flu Index shows high incidence of influenza across the South

A number of Southern states are experiencing an increase in flu activity, as indicated in last week's Walgreens Flu Index.

The index for the week of Dec. 27 revealed that Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida were among the top 10 states to have a high incidence of influenza. Specifically, the top 10 markets with flu activity were Harlingen–Weslaco-Brownsville–McAllen, Texas; Miami–Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tyler–Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; El Paso, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Dallas–Ft. Worth, Texas. Among the areas that saw gains in flu activity included Shreveport, Las Vegas and Harlingen–Weslaco-Brownsville–McAllen.

The Walgreens Flu Index is a weekly report that ranks states and markets across the nation that are dealing with high incidences of the viral infection.

The online, interactive resource allows individuals to obtain information on the current incidence of flu in their community and uses retail prescription data of antiviral medications for the treatment of influenza obtained from Walgreens location around the country. While the drug retailing chain operates more than 8,000 stores across all 50 states, the Flu Index excludes markets with less than 10 Walgreen retail locations.