South Africa Lab Still Reeling from Ransomware Attack

South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is struggling to recover from a ransomware attack that disrupted systems and deleted backups. The attack, which took place on June 22, blocked communications between lab information systems and other medical databases. While all labs are fully functional, physicians cannot access test results via the online portal. The ransomware surge comes as the country’s healthcare system is under strain due to an mpox outbreak and subsequent pressures on testing labs. Cybersecurity firm Group-IB revealed that ransomware attacks had doubled last year, putting patient care at significant risk.