Houston logged 5.5 active tuberculosis cases per 100,000 residents in 2024, the highest rate of any county in Texas, according to a new county analysis. Health officials say the airborne disease is still preventable and treatable, but note that controlling it hinges on early detection and patients sticking with months-long courses of therapy.
The figure appears in a fresh county study that tracks TB trends from 2018 through 2024, with the 2024 numbers labeled as provisional. The report links the uptick to specific social drivers and urges more aggressive screening, contact investigations and easier access to treatment, according to Harris County Public Health.
Per the Texas Department of State Health Services, the statewide active TB rate in 2024 was about 4.0 cases per 100,000 residents. The provisional national incidence for 2024 was roughly 2.9 cases per 100,000, according to the CDC's 2024 surveillance tables.
Where Cases Are Concentrated
The county report spots higher active TB rates in several ZIP-code areas, particularly ZCTAs 77002, 77032, 77011, 77074 and 77009. These hot spots overlap with communities experiencing housing instability and poverty. The analysis recommends focusing testing, outreach and directly observed therapy in those neighborhoods to cut off transmission, per Harris County Public Health.
What Officials Recommend
County health leaders are urging anyone with a persistent cough, fever or unexplained weight loss to get checked out, and are pointing residents toward free or low-cost screening options. Local coverage has echoed those public-health alerts, outlining the core TB symptoms and emphasizing how crucial it is to finish the full course of treatment, according to Click2Houston.
Harris County's TB elimination push has also earned national recognition. The HCPH Tuberculosis Elimination Program was named a U.S. TB Elimination Champion by the CDC in 2025, an honor officials say reflects expanded outreach and added supports for patients. The report wraps up by stressing that more screening, stronger support for treatment completion and tackling housing and access barriers are the most direct paths to driving down Houston’s TB rate, per CDC.
