By 
Hospitals in the US and Australia have been hit by a spate of cyber-attacks, forcing a number of medical facilities to lock their computer systems. Even some patients have been turned away and surgeries have also been cancelled.
Reported on Tuesday, a ransomware attack affected the DCH Health System, a regional hospital located in Alabama. An isolated attack revealed on Monday affected numerous regional hospitals in Victoria, Australia.
The three regional hospitals, located in Tuscaloosa, Fayette and Northport, are “closed to all but the most critical new patients,” according to a Tuesday release. The release said that cybercriminals are limiting the hospitals’ abilities to use their computer systems in exchange for an “as-yet unknown payment.”
“Our hospitals have implemented our emergency procedures to ensure safe and efficient operations in the event technology dependent on computers is not available,” according to the release. “That said, we feel it is in the best interest of patient safety that DCH Regional Medical Center, Northport Medical Center and Fayette Medical Center are closed to all but the most critical new patients. Our staff is caring for the patients who are currently in the hospital, and we have no plans to transfer current patients.”
According to the hospitals, local ambulances have been advised to take patients to other hospitals if at all possible. Representatives said that the patients who come to their emergency departments are likely to be moved to another hospital when they are soothed.
No further information is available at the moment.
