About

Harris County Public Health (HCPH)

Throughout the years, HCPH has responded to public health issues such as rabies, mosquito-borne illnesses, air and water pollution, disease outbreaks, water and food-borne illnesses, natural disasters, tuberculosis, polio, and other communicable diseases. 
Public health is now battling new challenges. Each year brings new diseases, new chronic disease risks, and more natural and man-made disasters.

Latest from

Public Health

IN THE NEWS

Harris County invests over $300K for low-cost pet spay, neuter services to combat animal overpopulation

29 Apr, 26

Precinct 3 partnered with Harris County Public Health and animal welfare nonprofit PetSet to create a mobile clinic that will travel around unincorporated Harris County over the next several months. Leaders said on top of providing affordable pet care, the initiative aims to improve public safety by reducing strays around the county over time.

Swat Floods Harris County Criminal Courts Building After Mental Health Scare

23 Apr, 26

According to Harris County Sheriff's Office policy, deputies are trained to request Crisis Intervention Response Teams and other crisis-trained personnel to assist with behavioral-health incidents. The county also runs the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a public-health-led program that has diverted nonviolent mental-health calls from law enforcement and expanded in recent years, as reported by Houston Chronicle. Those programs are designed to get clinical help to people in crisis while minimizing forceful interventions.

In Harris County, Black Maternal Health Isn’t a Statistic. It’s a Crisis Demanding Action

22 Apr, 26

For many families, pregnancy is supposed to be a time of anticipation and hope. But for Black women in Harris County, it is too often shadowed by risk. As Black Maternal Health Week comes to a close, the message from local leaders is clear: the work to address maternal mortality is far from over. The numbers are not just alarming. They are unacceptable. Nationwide, Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Here in Harris County, the disparity is even more severe. A 2024 report from Harris County Public Health found that between 2016 and 2020, Black women experienced a maternal mortality rate of 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is nearly double the national rate for Black women and more than four times higher than for white women.

PRESS RELEASES

Harris County Public Health and Houston Health Department Co-Host 2026 Texas Public Health Association Annual Education Conference

18 May, 26

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and the Houston Health Department (HHD) are proud to co-host the Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) for its 2026 Annual Education Conference. This premier gathering brings together hundreds of public health professionals from across the state, including doctors, nurses, researchers, and community advocates, to address the most pressing health challenges facing Texas today.
most pressing health challenges facing Texas today.

Harris County Public Health’s 2025 Annual Report Highlights a Year of Impact and Innovation

14 May, 26

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 annual report, highlighting progress in protecting health, preventing disease and injury, and promoting health and well-being for the 5 million community members of Harris County.

May Highlights Health and Wellness in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities

05 May, 26

During AANHPI Heritage Month, Harris County Public Health recognizes the health needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and remains committed to making care and services easier to access for everyone.