In case you were wondering, "how bad is the flu this year?", here's the answer. It's not good in Louisiana.

Walgreens announced on Monday that Louisiana has the highest flu activity in the country. This is according to the 2022-2023 Walgreens Flu Index.

According to their Index, overall flu activity is more than 10 times higher nationwide when compared to the 2021-2022 flu season and has more than doubled over the past two weeks.

“As we head into the fall and winter seasons, our data show significantly higher flu activity early this year when compared to other flu seasons and it’s increasing across the United States, especially in southern cities,” said Anita Patel, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy services development, Walgreens. “As we return to pre-pandemic activities and spend more time indoors without a mask or social distancing, we are more vulnerable to respiratory infections. To help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this season, the best thing you can do is schedule your annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster at Walgreens in one convenient stop.”

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During the week of October 10, flu activity was the highest in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Several major cities, including New Orleans, Houston and Mobile were designated the top ten areas with the most widespread flu activity so far this flu season.

Here are the top 10 states and metro areas with the highest flu activity, according to Walgreens:

Top 10 DMAs with Highest Flu Activity

  1. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
  2. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Mississippi
  3. Corpus Christi, Texas
  4. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
  5. New Orleans, Louisiana
  6. Columbus, Georgia
  7. Houston, Texas
  8. Lafayette, Louisiana
  9. Mobile, Alabama-Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach, Florida
  10. Montgomery-Selma, Alabama

Top 10 States with Highest Flu Activity

  1. Louisiana
  2. Mississippi
  3. Texas
  4. Alabama
  5. Georgia
  6. Tennessee
  7. Arkansas
  8. South Carolina
  9. Puerto Rico
  10. North Carolina

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Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

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