Feeling down?
So are a lot of others in Texas. The Lone Star State tops Walgreens Flu Index, a weekly report developed to provide state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is near the top of their list for flu activity.
The report ranks those states and markets experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country.
Influenza is a contagious disease caused by one of a number of related viruses. Flu symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and fatigue, according to the Texas Health and Human Services department. The onset of symptoms is sudden and people should stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care.
The Flu Index provides valuable insight by showing which cities or metropolitan areas are experiencing the most incidences of influenza each week based on Index methodology. The data does not measure actual levels or severity of flu activity.
To view this week’s Walgreens Flu Index, maps and other online features, including the ability to search by market name or state, click here.
To find out where to get flu vaccine, click here.
Nearby, Oklahoma is also seeing an increase. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports there have now been 10 deaths due to influenza in the state since the start of the current flu season in September.
The department said in a news release Thursday that there have also been more than 400 people hospitalized with influenza since Sept. 1.
There were 110 flu-related deaths in the state last flu season, just shy of the record 114 deaths three years ago.
Oklahoma is one of about two dozen states nationwide in which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the flu is widespread.
Top 10 DMAs* with Flu Activity
Week Ending 12/23/2017
1. Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas
2. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
3. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
4. Houston, Texas
5. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas
6. Corpus Christi, Texas
7. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
8. Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.
9. San Antonio, Texas
10. Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
Top 10 States with Flu Activity
Week Ending 12/23/2017
1. Texas
2. Arkansas
3. Tennessee
4. West Virginia
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa
7. Idaho
8. Montana
9. Oklahoma
10. North Carolina
Top 10 DMAs with Flu Activity Gains
Week Ending 12/23/2017
1. Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas
2. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
3. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas
4. Houston, Texas
5. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
6. Corpus Christi, Texas
7. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
8. San Antonio, Texas
9. Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
10. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Top 10 States with Flu Activity Gains
Week Ending 12/23/2017
1. Texas
2. Arkansas
3. Tennessee
4. West Virginia
5. Idaho
6. Nebraska
7. Montana
8. Iowa
9. Louisiana
10. Arizona
Methodology
The Walgreens Flu Index™ is compiled using weekly retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide, including Walgreens locations in Puerto Rico. The data 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.
For more on the flu:
www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/briefs/the-us-may-be-in-for-a-tough-flu-season/article_ee58ac2a-ec0c-11e7-9544-6f508229fde1.html