By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — As the number of cases of influenza increase in New York state and region, this year’s flu vaccine formulation does not include the now dominant strain.
Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins told the Board of Health Wednesday that the 2025-26 influenza vaccine was designed last spring for a J2 variant of influenza A, H3N2. An emerging K variant of H3N2 began to increase in circulation and is now a predominant strain, he explained.
As a result of the K variant of H3N2, the flu shot combination thousands in Cattaraugus County have received at Health Department influenza clinics, private physicians and pharmacies may not fully protect from that strain of Influenza A, Watkins said. “It is miss-matched from this year’s flu vaccine.”
However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu vaccine is designed to prevent serious disease, hospitalization and death. It also helps contain the spread of influenza in the community.
Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 16, there were 89 confirmed cases of influenza in Cattaraugus County — 84 were influenza A and five were influenza B, Watkins said. Since not everyone’s influenza case is diagnosed or confirmed, the actual number of cases is likely higher.
New York State is considered a high transmission state for influenza by the CDC.
With a rate of less than seven cases per 100,000, Cattaraugus County is not currently considered a high transmission area. Allegany County, on the other hand, has a rate of 40 or more per 100,000.
With the higher infection rate for the K mutation in influenza A H3N2, Watkins said people need to be vigilant as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays approach.
Seniors, pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised and the young are particularly at risk.
The symptoms can appear in three days after infection and include: fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, feeling very tired and sweating and chills.
Prevention measures include: washing hands frequently, don’t touch your face, cover coughs and sneezes, clean surfaces, avoid crowds and get vaccinated.
The board welcomed Dr. Swagata Banik, dean of the DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University, who spoke of greater collaboration between the university and county health officials to help address the challenges facing rural healthcare.
Banik also emphasized the importance of locally grounded and collaborative solutions. He said the school has a vision to establish a center for rural health care, focusing on prevention, workforce development and improving access to healthcare and public health services.
IN OTHER ACTION, the board approved a new Community Health Assessment/Improvement Plan for submission to the state Department of Health.
In upcoming health assessments, the local Health Department will cooperate with Olean General Hospital, Bradford Regional Medical Center and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville.
The Cattaraugus County priorities over the next three years are mental health, substance abuse, access to healthcare, transportation and poverty/housing.
Three priority areas described in the Health Assessment/Improvement Plan are anxiety and stress, primary prevention of substance abuse and healthcare access.
In terms of healthcare access, Watkins noted that younger people are now being diagnosed with colon cancer.
While the recommendation for a first colonoscopy has been lowered to 45, physicians are seeing men and women in their 20s and 30s with the disease. “We really need to get the word out,” he said.
The Board of Health also fined Four Mile Brewing in Olean $150 for operating without a permit. The company’s permit expired May 31.
