Freakin’ out

San Antonio burdened as most stressed-out city in Texas

San Antonio tweets reveal it's one stressed-out city.

In what may be a bit of a head-scratcher, San Antonio has been labeled the most stressed-out city in Texas.

Healthcare tech startup Babylon Health analyzed millions of tweets in the U.S. to find out where Twitter users are most likely to post words related to stress, frustration, and anxiety. San Antonio came out on top in Texas, with 11.62 percent of tweets fitting that description.

This ranking might come as a surprise to some Alamo City residents, given that San Antonio’s cost of living and traffic — two significant sources of stress — are consistently better compared with Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston.

However, it’s worth noting that San Antonio barely edged out Houston for the title of Texas' most stressed big city. Babylon Health’s data shows 11.6 percent of tweets from Houston were classified as “stressed.”

In fact, Houston ranked as the most stressed-out city in Texas in a 2018 study by personal finance website WalletHub. For the study, WalletHub measured 37 key metrics related to stress, including average hours worked per week, divorce rates, and suicide rates. Among 180 major U.S. cities, Houston clocked in at No. 21. San Antonio was far down the list, at No. 88.

In yet another assessment of America’s stressed-out cities — this one from career website Zippia — the Houston suburb of Pasadena took the No. 1 spot in Texas, ranking 44th nationally. Houston was at No. 54. Meanwhile, San Antonio failed to crack Zippia’s top 100. For its ranking, Zippia weighed factors like commute times, unemployment rates, and population density.

Looking for the least stressed-out big city in Texas? That honor, according to Babylon Health, goes to Arlington, where 9.07 percent of tweets fell into the “stressed” category.

Based on Babylon Health’s count of “stressed” tweets, here’s the full stress-o-meter for big cities in Texas’ four major metro areas:

San Antonio — 11.62 percent.
Houston — 11.6 percent.
Fort Worth — 11.15 percent.
Garland — 11.15 percent.
Irving — 10.79 percent.
Dallas — 10.29 percent.
Austin — 10.2 percent.
Plano — 9.86 percent.
Arlington — 9.07 percent.

Nationally, Babylon Health declared Hialeah, Florida, as the most stressed-out U.S. city, with 13.03 percent of tweets there classified as stressed. St. Paul, Minnesota, claimed the title of least stressed-out city, with 2.56 percent of tweets being characterized as stressed.

lists rankings

Fight This Fly

Wildlife officials warn Texans to look out for parasitic screwworm

U.S. Department of Agriculture/aphis.usda.gov

The the New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasite that turns into a fly.

It probably won't take much to convince Texans to stay away from the latest invasive species from Mexico, once they hear about the symptoms. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) says to look out for evidence of the New World Screwworm (NWS) affecting animals, especially near the state's southern border.

So far it sounds like the NWS is still relatively far away, having been spotted in a cow at a checkpoint near the border between Mexico and Guatemala. It was eradicated from the United States in 1966, according to TPWD, but it is being tracked northward from South and Central America.

Although it's called a worm, it is really a parasitic larva, and this is where things get disturbing.

Before the "worms" become the NWS fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), they lay eggs in open wounds or orifices of live tissue. They are called screwworms because they screw into the flesh, worsening injuries and causing a painful condition called NWS myiasis. An infestation can even lead to the death of the animal.

The larvae drop to the ground after feeding, and emerge as flies that can travel long distances, so the movement of livestock — not just contact among them — is a concern.

If you don't own livestock, you're not quite out of the woods. Although the NWS does affect those animals the most, it also affects wildlife like deer and birds, and even pets and humans. Hunters should also keep an eye out, as well as any "outdoor enthusiasts," says the release.

From the release, here are some things to look out for:

Irritated or depressed behavior
Loss of appetite
Head shaking
Smell of decaying flesh
Presence of fly larvae (maggots) in wounds
Isolation from other animals or people

To keep the flies away, especially when traveling to NWS-affected areas like Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and South American countries, TPWD says it's important to clean and cover all wounds. Travelers should also use insect repellant on outdoor clothing.

Anyone who suspects signs in wildlife of NWS should report their findings immediately to a local wildlife biologist. Reports about livestock should be directed to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Those enjoying Texas’ natural resources have an opportunity to serve as the first line of defense in protecting wildlife, livestock, and human health,” said TPWD wildlife veterinarian Dr. J Hunter Reed in the release. “Their eyes and ears will be critical to quickly responding and managing this threat.”

animals farmers nature