Texas is Leading the Country in Flu Cases

Texas is currently home to the largest flu outbreaks in the country, according to data collected by Walgreens.

Not only is it the state with the most "flu activity," but 8 of the top 10 regional markets with the highest number of flu cases are in Texas (the other two are in Arkansas). At the moment, the San Antonio area ranks ninth in the country. The Tyler and Longeview region ranks number one.

Texas' cases are at odds with most of the country. According to Walgreens' data, the majority of states have a relatively low number of flu cases — just one look at this map makes this painfully obvious.



This rate isn't normal for Texas. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, state hospital labs reported 59 positive flu tests for the week of Dec. 18-26 in 2016. For the same week this year (Dec. 17-23), that number grew to a whopping 777 — that's a 1,216 percent increase.

If this trend continues, Texas is expected to see the worst flu season in recent history. According to public health experts, this could be due to the certain mutated strain of influenza spreading across the country that's made this year's flu vaccine only 10 percent effective.