Heard some coughing over the holidays? Not a surprise as the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranks No. 6 on the Walgreens Flu Index for the week ending Dec. 29. In terms of states, Texas ranks No. 2, just behind Nebraska.
The Walgreen Flu Index is a weekly report developed to provide state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity, and ranks those states and markets experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country.
Top 10 DMAs* with Flu Activity
Week Ending 12/29/2018
1. Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Neb.
2. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
3. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
4. Omaha, Neb.
5. Montgomery-Selma, Ala.
6. Dallas-Fort Worth
7. Louisville, Ky.
8. Tyler-Longview(Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas
9. Chattanooga, Tenn.
10. Nashville, Tenn.
Top 10 States with Flu Activity
Week Ending 12/29/2018
1. Nebraska
2. Texas
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. New Mexico
6. Colorado
7. Alabama
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. New Jersey
Top 10 DMAs with Flu Activity Gains
Week Ending 12/29/2018
1. Tyler-Longview(Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas
2. Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Neb.
3. Omaha, Neb.
4. Louisville, Ky.
5. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas
6. Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.
7. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
8. San Antonio, Texas
9. Shreveport, La.
10. Las Vegas, Nev.
Top 10 States with Flu Activity Gains
Week Ending 12/29/2018
1. Nebraska
2. Kentucky
3. Wyoming
4. Texas
5. Nevada
6. Iowa
7. Utah
8. Kansas
9. New Jersey
10. Montana
The Index is not intended to illustrate levels or severity of flu activity, but rather, based on this methodology, to show which populations are experiencing the highest incidences of influenza within the U.S. and Puerto Rico each week, according to a news release from the retailer.
Data for the Walgreens Flu Index is analyzed at 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.
In mid-December MedStar reported that crews are responding to more than double the number of patients with a clinical impression of flu like illnesses than we did last year.
Here are some of Medstar’s recommendations:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
In November 2018, MedStar crews treated 123 patients with a primary or secondary clinical impression of influenza like illness.
This compares to 50 patients in November 2017.
Analyzing the 123 cases:
 The average age is 47, with the youngest 9 months and oldest 90 years old.
 58% of the patients are female
 The highest prevalence zip code in MedStar’s service area is 76112 in far east Fort Worth.
Between January and March, 2018, MedStar crews responded to over 1,100 patients with flu like illness.
And, to help reverse this early trend, MedStar is offering to bring a mobile flu vaccination clinic to any location with a group of 10 or more who would like to be vaccinated – click here for more information.
From the Tarrant County Health Department:
http://access.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health/disease-control—prevention/flu-updates.html