Ransomware attack on South Africa National Health Laboratory during mokeypox outbreak
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South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has confirmed a significant ransomware attack that began on Saturday, severely affecting its ability to disseminate lab results amid a growing monkeypox outbreak.
The ransomware attack started on a Saturday morning, 22nd June 2024. It affected portions of NHLS’s IT infrastructure, including backup servers
IT systems were rendered inaccessible, blocking communication to and from databases. It disabled automatic generation and dissemination of lab reports and forced communication of urgent results via phone or printed reports.
It's unclear whether the attack resulted in data theft and whether any individuals were compromised.
NHLS, which operates 265 laboratories across South Africa, stated that databases holding patient information were not compromised. They have shut down certain systems to secure the environment and engaged external cybersecurity firms for assistance. Laboratories continue to process clinical samples, but results are now communicated manually due to IT disruptions.
