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

New Tuberculosis Report Highlights the Continuous Need for Public Health Action

20 Apr, 26

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has released its latest Tuberculosis (TB) Report, providing a comprehensive look at tuberculosis trends, risk factors, and prevention strategies across Harris County from 2018 to 2024.
The report shows that while tuberculosis is both preventable and treatable, it remains a persistent public health concern locally. Harris County continues to experience higher TB rates than both the state of Texas and the nation, highlighting the need for sustained public health action.

Young Musician’s Program Brings Comfort and Connection to Shelter Pets in Harris County

16 Apr, 26

Harris County Pets, resourced by Harris County Public Health, is partnering with Wild Tunes, a national nonprofit founded by a 10-year-old Houstonian, Yuvi Agarwal. It introduces a unique animal enrichment program that uses live music to comfort shelter pets.

Founded in 2023, Wild Tunes invites volunteer musicians of all skill levels to play instruments or sing for animals in shelter environments. The program aims to reduce stress and help pets become more comfortable around people.

One Hub for Better Health: Harris County Public Health and Houston Health Department Launch Joint Data & Reporting Hub

13 Apr, 26

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and the Houston Health Department (HHD)
are excited to announce the launch of the Houston-Harris County Joint Public Health Data and
Reporting Hub. This new online resource brings together important health data for the region in
one place, making health information more easily accessible.