Lakelands Public Health advised the public Feb 3 that it is currently responding to a cybersecurity incident discovered on Jan. 29,
affecting some of its internal systems.
The health unit said it was sharing the information “proactively in the interest of transparency and public trust.”
Upon becoming aware of the issue, Lakelands Public Health said it took immediate steps to secure its systems and initiated its incident
response protocols. It said a leading cybersecurity firm has been engaged to support the investigation, containment, and recovery efforts, and working closely with experts to restore systems safely and efficiently.
The health unit said some programs and services may experience temporary disruptions as restoration work continues. Where impacts occur, affected individuals and partners will be contacted directly. They added that based on what they know to date, the systems that house data for infectious disease and clinical appointments (immunization, sexual health, etc.) have not been impacted.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and Lakelands Public Health is doing everything we can to protect personal information and restore
public health services. In the event the investigation determines that any personal or personal health information has been impacted, any affected parties will be contacted accordingly.
“Our priority response to this event is protecting the information entrusted to us and maintaining continuity of critical public health services,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, medical officer of health and chief executive officer for Lakelands Public Health.
“By taking a proactive approach and engaging specialized expertise, we are working diligently to restore systems and keep our
community informed.”
Lakelands Public Health said it will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available and appreciates the patience and understanding of residents, partners, and staff as the work progresses.
For further updates, visit lakelandsPH.ca
