By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Vape shops — many which operate without permits — continue to be a major concern of the Cattaraugus County Health Department.
“They are showing up in a lot of communities, ” Bob Ring, Environmental Health director, told members of the Board of Health earlier this week. Compliance checks have turned up one sale to an underage person.
Unlicensed vape shops are possible avenues for the sale of flavored vapor products as well as underage sales. The use of vape products are prohibited in public places indoors and in places where cigarettes are banned.
Dr. Zahid Chohan, a vascular surgeon at Olean General Hospital, and a member of the Board of Health, pointed out that vape products cause more damage to the lungs than smoking cigarettes. He sees younger people who vape with lung damage.
Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins said when the health department finds an unlicensed vape shop, they turn their information over to the state “and let them deal with it.”
Ring also reported that the health department is obtaining permits in order to spray mosquito larvicide or insecticide if necessary this spring and summer.
The City of Olean, Portville, Hinsdale, Allegany, Carrollton, Great Valley and City and Town of Salamanca are participating again this year in the county’s mosquito surveillance program.
Larvicide to target mosquito larvae in wetlands breeding pools is the preferred method of keeping mosquito populations along the Allegheny River Valley in check.
Ring said two college students will be hired to man the mosquito surveillance program that begins in May with counting mosquito larvae. Aerial spraying of larvicide will keep mosquito populations down because it stunts the growth of mosquito larvae.
Ring also told the board that the health department expects to be able to install or repair 10-15 more individual water and sewer systems of low and moderate income families under its continuing Community Development Block Grant program.
“We recently installed three wells for people who hadn’t had water in months,” Ring said. To qualify, contact the health department at (716) 373-8050.
Nursing Director Lynn Moore reported 37 cases of Influenza a in March and 90 in February. There were 199 cases of Influenza B in March and 101 in February. She said there were 81 Covid 19 cases in March and 84 in February. Also, there were 53 RSV cases in March and 41 in February. Eleven new cases of probable Lyme disease were also reported in March.
Watkins also reviewed the 2025 Health Department report with the board. The department had a $13.7 million budget in 2025, with home care spending 42% of the total, environmental health, 20%; community health, 14% and early care, 7%.
The department assisted 916 people in the home care program in 2025. That is down from 1,045 in 2024, 1,347 in 2023, 1,371 in 2022 and 1,431 in 2021.
In the environmental health division, public water supplies are monitored, food establishments are inspected and rabies and animal bites are investigated.
Dogs, cats and ferrets are required to be vaccinated for rabies. Last year, the health department vaccinated 1,370 animals and conducted 228 bite investigations — mostly dogs, but including bats and other animals. That compares to 1,463 vaccinations and 230 bite investigations in 2024, 1,442 vaccinations and 219 investigations in 2023, 1,238 vaccinations and 210 investigations in 2022 and 907 vaccinations and 205 investigations in 2021.
Also, the health department issued 490 food permits in 2025 along with 416 inspections and 542 violations.
That compares to 560 facilities, 484 inspections and 706 violations in 2024; 536 facilities, 480 inspections and 756 violations in 2023; 638 facilities, 456 inspections and 290 violations in 2022 and 547 facilities, 161 inspections and 83 violations in 2021.
Watkins also reported the department’s Veggie Wheels, a mobile fresh food pantry, increased participation by about 300 families in 2025. He said 1,144 individuals participated in 2025, up from 844 in 2024. The 2025 expansion included eggs as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
