Possible cyberattack disrupts health care services in Canadian province – Minister

Nov. 1 (Reuters) – A possible cyberattack on the health care system in the Canadian province of Newfoundland has disrupted services and forced the cancellation of some appointments, health officials said on Monday.

An investigation was underway to understand the nature and extent of the attack, which was detected on Saturday, Health Minister John Haggie told reporters.

“This has led to the gradual failure of what has been described to me as the brain of the data center and a loss of functionality and systems in regional health authorities,” he said, adding that authorities had adopted emergency measures.

The CBC said a ransomware attack, which encrypts computer files and demands payment for their restoration, was the cause of the disruption in health care services, but Haggie could not confirm.

The health care system in the remote Atlantic province has had a significant impact.

CEO David Diamond of the worst-affected region Eastern Regional Health Authority said emergency procedures were continuing on Monday and all other appointments would be postponed to another day.

The Toronto transit agency was the subject of a ransomware attack last week, but caused no significant disruption, according to a report by The Canadian Press.

In June, a Toronto hospital lost control of essential services following a ransomware attack.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bangalore; Editing by Howard Goller

Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.