South Africa National Healthcare Lab Still Reeling From Ransomware Attack
02-July-24
South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) continues to recover from a ransomware attack that disrupted services, particularly impacting responses to disease outbreaks like mpox. The attack, which occurred on June 22, hindered communications within laboratory systems and led to delays in public health testing. This incident exacerbates existing strains on the country’s healthcare system, already burdened by an mpox outbreak and ongoing resource challenges. With ransomware attacks on the rise globally, cybersecurity experts stress the need for a multi-layered defense strategy and governmental intervention to enforce stringent cybersecurity measures across all sectors, ensuring preparedness against such pervasive threats.
