BREAKING: According to new information, the cyberattack carried out during the night of November 1–2 on…
Cyber Attack · · France
BREAKING: According to new information, the cyberattack carried out during the night of November 1–2 on European refrigeration systems has also affected frozen plasma intended for transfusions at the French Blood Establishment (EFS).
The attack targeted Coolworld, a refrigeration service provider for the EFS, reportedly disrupting temperature-control systems used to store blood products in France.
According to information revealed by the French weekly Le Canard enchaîné, hackers allegedly manipulated refrigeration systems, causing freezers normally maintained at approximately –30°C to be programmed to reach temperatures of up to 110°C.
The incident reportedly affected facilities in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
Even more concerning, frozen plasma intended for transfusions to patients was reportedly among the products affected, and not just donor samples used for health monitoring.
Frozen plasma is a critical medical product used in hospitals, particularly in the treatment of severe hemorrhages and certain coagulation disorders. Its storage requires strict temperature controls to preserve its safety and effectiveness. A prolonged disruption of the cold chain could compromise these products and potentially require their withdrawal from use.
According to reports, the incident was detected overnight by an on-call technician who noticed an abnormal rise in temperatures in the cold-storage facilities. The rapid detection reportedly allowed the situation to be addressed before any operational disruption occurred.
The French Ministry of Health has stated that the incident had no operational consequences, and no compromised transfusions or harm to patients have been confirmed so far.
However, several important details remain undisclosed, including the number of facilities affected, the duration of the temperature fluctuations, the actual temperatures reached inside the freezers, and the extent of the potential impact on stored plasma.
Source: @GeoInsider
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