Illegal Tattooing Continues
By Brian Quinn
Published : August 21, 2009

BELMONT, NY – Allegany County Health Department officials said they don’t know when a woman began performing illegal tattooing in the county, but they think it’s been going on for a few months.

“We first learned about the possibility a person going by the name of “Cindy” was tattooing without a health department-issued permit about a month ago, but the person telling us this could provide us with no additional information as to her full name and how to locate her,” Deputy Public Health Director Thomas Hull wrote in an e-mail.

“Similar instances frequently happen in other counties,” he said. “Probably the most significant one occurred earlier this year in Niagara County, where several tattoos infected with MRSA (methycillin-resistant staph aureus) were linked to a tattooist in that county.”
County health staff ask any county residents with information on “Cindy” or others who may be performing illegal tattooing or body piercing to call the department at (585) 268-9250.

At least one person who got a tattoo done by “Cindy” was treated for an infection of the tattoo site in the emergency room at Jones Memorial Hospital.
“We can’t mention much about the person involved because of HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations,” Hull said. “Suffice it to say the person was seen in the ER at Jones, treated for the infection and released.”

Source : Wellsville Daily