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Health Alert & Advisory System

An E-mail notification system to alert the following partners about important health related alerts and advisories.

  • Physicians & Health Care Professionals
  • Veterinarians
  • Child Care Providers
  • Education Partners
  • Business Partners
  • Faith Based and Community Based Organizations
  • Individuals

more info

Questions & Comments

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Please enter your question, comments and other information below. Then click "Submit." Thank you.

If you would like to file a complaint about a specific restaurant in Erie County you may call the following ECDOH District Office that is closest to where the specific restaurant is located. If you have a question regarding your housing you may call the office that is closets to where you live.

Central/North (Buffalo) District Office (716) 961-6800
South (Hamburg) District Office (716) 649-4225
East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office (716) 683-6487

If your question requires an immediate response, please call (716) 858-7690. If it is after regular business hours, call (716) 961-7898.

You have reached the Erie County Department of Health in Buffalo, NY. If you are trying to reach the Health Department in Erie, PA, please contact them at http://www.ecdh.org. Thank you.

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FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Restaurants & Food Service Issues

How do I file a complaint about a specific restaurant in Erie County?

Please call the following Erie County Department of Health District Office that is closest to where the specific restaurant is located.

District Offices
Central/North (Buffalo) District Office(716) 961-6800
South (Hamburg) District Office(716) 649-4225
East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office(716) 683-6487

Is it illegal to smoke in all bars and restaurants in Erie County?

Yes. Effective July 24, 2003, the amended New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Public Health Law, Article 13-E) prohibits smoking in virtually all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. The changes in the Act reflect the state's commitment to ensuring that all workers are protected from secondhand smoke. For more information about the NY State Clean Indoor Air Act, please go to http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/clean_indoor_air_act/general.htm.

Is it mandatory for restaurant staff in Erie County to be qualified in ServSafe® or another safe food handling program?

In September, New York State amended the Public Health Law to require restaurants to employ at least one person trained and certified in food safety. The entire food code is in the process of being updated and it is expected to include these new employee training requirements. The specific courses that will be accepted, and how frequently they will need to be renewed, have not been finalized at this time. Further information is expected in early 2008.

I work in a restaurant in Erie County. Do I have to pull my hair back or wear a hair net while working?

The State Food Code states "All persons within a food service establishment who work in areas where food is prepared are to use hats, caps or hair nets as restraints which minimize hair contact with hands, food and food-contact surfaces." Each employer may have work rules that exceed this code requirement.

Is it a violation of sanitary code for food workers (including bartenders and wait staff) to handle food after touching money with gloves?

The FDA Retail Food Protection Branch has issued an interpretation that "money is not as heavily laden with microorganisms as commonly believed. Microorganisms cannot survive well on inanimate objects because of the lack of proper temperature, moisture and nutrients necessary for them to reproduce." Therefore, touching money with gloves and then handling food without first removing or changing the gloves is not a violation under current NYSDOH guidelines. However, although this practice of touching money and then food with the same gloves has little or no public health significance, it creates an aesthetic concern and prompts numerous consumer complaints. Therefore, food service operators are encouraged, but not mandated, to discontinue this practice and/or revise operational protocols to separate job tasks whenever possible.

Housing Issues

I think that I am sick as a result of mold, lead, asbestos, water, or because of something else in the environment or in my house/apartment. Can you have someone test my house/apartment and/or the environment?

The ECDOH advises you to contact your health care provider immediately to discuss your situation with him/her. Your health care provider will report the incident to the ECDOH if he or she finds a reportable disease or other potential public health issue. If you do not have a health care provider, you can call the Erie County Department of Health's Primary Care Clinic at (716) 891-7711. Thank you.

There is a bat in my house - what should I do?

Do not let the bat get outside. Call the Erie County Department of Health Immediately.

If professional help is not available, capture the bat safely as described below. You will need leather or very thick work gloves (put them on), a small box or coffee can, a piece of cardboard, and tape.

  1. When the bat lands, move slowly toward it.
  2. While wearing the gloves, put the box or coffee can over the bat.
  3. Then, slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside.
  4. Tape the cardboard to the container, and punch small holes in the cardboard, allowing the bat to breathe.
  5. Immediately call the following Erie County Department of Health Office that is closest to where you live.
    • Central/North (Buffalo) District Office (716) 961-6800
    • South (Hamburg) District Office (716) 649-4225
    • East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office (716) 683-6487
    • If it is after regular business hours, call (716) 961-7898

I have mold in my house. Can the Erie County Department of Health come out and clean it up?

Mold is part of the natural environment and is present everywhere indoors and outdoors. Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Mold spores will not grow if moisture in not present. Mold growth can be prevented and controlled by controlling moisture indoors. Moisture control is the key to mold control.

If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but do not fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will return.

Currently there are no regulatory standards for mold mitigation. The Erie County Department of Health does not have the authority to require mold to be mitigated from a home and cannot respond to a service request based solely on the presence of mold. For additional information on mold testing, proper cleanup techniques and mold and moisture prevention please go to. http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html.

If you have further questions about environmental health issues, please contact the following Erie County Department of Health District Office that is closest to where you live.

District Offices
Central/North (Buffalo) District Office(716) 961-6800
South (Hamburg) District Office(716) 649-4225
East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office(716) 683-6487

LEAD Poisoning Issues

How can I find out if the house I am living in has ever been tested for Lead?

Please call the following Erie County Department of Health District Office that is closest to where you live.

District Offices
Central/North (Buffalo) District Office(716) 961-6800
South (Hamburg) District Office(716) 649-4225
East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office(716) 683-6487

Do home test kits for lead really work?

You may have heard about home test kits, which are sold for use in the home to detect lead in paint, soil, and dust (and, in some cases, water, dishware, glasses, and ceramics). A chemical reaction occurs when chemicals in the kit are exposed to lead, causing a color change. The State Department of Health and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency do not recommend home test kits to detect lead in toys, paint, dust, or soil. Studies show that these kits are not reliable enough to tell the difference between high and low levels of lead. At this time, the kits are not recommended for testing performed by either homeowners or certified lead-based paint professionals.

General FAQ's

I am traveling to a foreign country. Where can I get the required and recommended vaccinations?

An excellent resource for information about required vaccines and traveler's health can be found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentVaccinations.aspx.

For a list of travel vaccine clinics in the Western New York area, please go to the WNY Adult Immunization Coalition (WNYAIC) website at http://www.immunizewny.org/.

Where can I get the Shingles Vaccine?

You should first contact your health care provider to see if he/she offers this vaccine. The following clinics also provide the Shingles vaccine. Thank you.

Independent Nursing Care
1038 Davis Road
West Falls, NY 14170
716-655-8776 ext. 308

Travelers Health & Immunization Center
297 Spindrift Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221
716-631-0929.

UEMS Occupational & Travel Health
Erie County Medical Center/Dept. Of Emergency Medicine
462 Grider Street
Buffalo, NY 14215
716-898-4153

Where can I find information on a specific disease or health condition?

For information about a specific disease or condition, please go to the New York State Department of Health's website.

Is there a low cost spay/neuter program for my pet?

Yes. For information on this program go to http://www.erie.gov/health/offices/pet_info.asp.

How do I file a Freedom of Information Request?

You may fill out and submit the above Freedom of Information Application. Please follow directions carefully. Applications for Freedom of Information may also be requested from any of the following Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) District Offices.

District Offices
Central/North (Buffalo) District Office462 Grider Street Bldg. BBBuffalo, NY 14215(716) 961-6800
South (Hamburg) District Office17 Long AvenueHamburg, NY 14075(716) 649-4225
East Suburban (Lancaster) District Office85 ManitouDepew, NY 14043(716) 683-6487
Room 93195 Franklin StreetBuffalo, NY 14202(716) 961-6800

New York State Law allows the ECDOH five (5) business days to respond to your request. There will be a charge of 25 cents per page of the report payable upon receipt of the records. Completed applications may be submitted to the Buffalo District Office at 462 Grider Street, Bldg. BB in Buffalo, NY 14215. Payment may be made by mail or in person at the ECDOH Accounting Office, Room 906 at 95 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY 14202. You will be contacted when the records are available for pick-up. Records may then be retrieved at Room 931 at 95 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY 14202 or mailed to you after payment is received.

Where are Erie County job openings posted?

Erie County job openings are posted on http://www.erie.gov/employment/index.asp.

How do I apply for WIC Benefits?

For information about WIC, please go to http://www.erie.gov/health/services/comm_wic.asp or call the WIC office directly at (716) 858-7715.

How hot does water need to be for hand washing?

The temperature of water is not as important as the rubbing action of the hands with soap followed by rinsing with clean water. The water should be warm enough to allow the person to comfortably wash their hands long enough to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. A comfortable water temperature for most people is between 110-120 degrees. To prevent scalding, the water should never be hotter than 120 degrees. For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/.