Houston Flu Cases Dropping As National Epidemic Increases

HOUSTON, TX — According to a map created by Walgreens, Texas leads the nation in most influenza outbreaks, including most of the top 10 markets in the U.S. The good news for Houston is that the city and its surrounding region finally fell out of the top 10 in the nation after being there for a solid month.

Whereas East Texas once topped the list, now West Texas leads the nation as El Paso, Texas/Las Cruces, new Mexico take the top spot. Corpus Christi is second and the Waco-Temple-Bryan region are third.

The national drugstore's designated market areas (DMA) are how these rankings of the flu outbreak are determined.

The Walgreens Flu Index is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. 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.

According to the store's website, the Flu Index is not intended to illustrate levels or severity of flu activity, but rather, illustrate which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of flu.

Top 10 Designated Market Areas (DMAs) with Flu Activity
1. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
2. Corpus Christi, Texas
3. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas
4. Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas
5. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
7. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
8. Knoxville, Tenn.
9. Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
10. Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City & Dubuque, Iowa

Top 10 States with Flu Activity
1. Texas
2. Iowa
3. Oklahoma
4. Tennessee
5. Arkansas
6. Nebraska
7. Montana
8. North Carolina
9. Idaho
10. Wisconsin

Texas continues to lead the nation in cases of influenza per Walgreens market data, and local hospitals all over the Lone Star State are filled to capacity with flu cases. But not everyone has come down with the virus nor taken a flu shot.

There have been four confirmed flu-related deaths in the Houston area according to the City of Houston Health Department, including two women in their 60's have died.

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists three different ways to prevent the flu, with a myriad of suggestions under each prevention method. The first is to still get a flu shot. While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. (See Vaccine Virus Selection for this season's vaccine composition.). Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors' visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

Another is to take an antiviral medicine that helps treat the flu like Tamiflu. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For people with high risk factors, treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.

The CDC lists healthy habits to undertake to try and prevent the flu. Those include:

1. Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

4. Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Additionally, the CDC offers three tips specifically to fight the flu, and that includes getting a flu shot for those who haven't done so yet. With cold temperatures lurking in Texas the next week or so, these could be good tips to follow.

Image: In this Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, photo, certified pharmacy technician Peggy Gillespie fills antibiotics into a syringe for use as an I.V. push at ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. A nasty flu season is hitting U.S. hospitals already scrambling to maintain patient care amid severe shortages of crucial sterile fluids, particularly saline solution needed to administer I.V. medicines and rehydrate patients. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)