United States: The release stated that a blood donation service that operates as one of the US Southeast’s most prominent programs and works with over 300 hospitals has been hit by a ransomware attack that severely compromised the organization’s operational capacity.
More about the news
OneBlood also noted that it is dealing with a “ransomware event,” which affected its software system, with the help of cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement agencies, federal, and state.
As it was said by Susan Forbes, OneBlood’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Relations, “OneBlood takes security of network extremely seriously”. Our team reacted quickly to assess our systems and began an investigation to confirm the full nature and scope of the event,” as the Fox News reported.
“Our comprehensive response efforts are ongoing, and we are working diligently to restore full functionality to our systems as expeditiously as possible,” Forbes added.
Attacks lowered the capacity of the Blood Center
Despite the statement, the nonprofit claimed that its centers continued collecting, testing, and distributing blood to hospitals, although at a lower capacity.
Forbes said, “We have implemented manual processes and procedures to remain operational. Manual processes take significantly longer to perform and impact inventory availability,” as Fox News reported.
“In an effort to further manage the blood supply, we have asked the more than 250 hospitals we serve to activate their critical blood shortage protocols and to remain in that status for the time being,” she continued.
A request for blood donations
In a call to the public, the nonprofit stated that OneBlood’s operational centers request blood donations. The group highlighted that all blood types are required but encouraged the public to donate O positive, O negative, and platelets.
The news release claims that blood centers across the nation are also giving their blood and platelets to OneBlood, and the AABB Disaster Task Force is organizing national support to aid the relocation of extra blood products to OneBlood.
According to its website, OneBlood serves 355 hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia and offers safe, available, and affordable blood.
Moreover, as Forbes added, “The blood supply cannot be taken for granted. The situation we are dealing with is ongoing. If you are eligible to donate, we urge you to please make an appointment to donate as soon as possible.”
According to the reports, the nonprofit has over 90 donor centers and 250 Big Red Bus bloodmobiles and is easily recognized throughout the country, especially in the southern region.
More about OneBlood
Originating in 2012 from the integration of three independent blood centers from Florida, OneBlood has expanded to be the second-largest blood center across the United States, only behind the American Red Cross.
The nonprofit delivers over 1 million blood products to numerous hospital centres in a year.