South Africa’s NHLS Shuts Down Systems After Cyberattack

The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa has been attacked by hackers, forcing a shutdown of its IT systems. NHLS CEO Prof Koleka Mlisana confirmed the breach, which comes amid a Mpox outbreak and an existing backlog in toxicology tests, posing a significant challenge for the beleaguered healthcare system. Preliminary investigations suggest patient data has not been compromised while restoration efforts are underway. No timeline has been provided for system restoration.