The New York Blood Center (NYBC), a major provider of blood products and transfusion services in the U.S., suffered a ransomware attack on Sunday, leading to operational disruptions and the cancellation of some donor appointments.
The cyberattack comes at a time when the center is already struggling with a significant drop in blood donations, further straining supply levels.
NYBC, which collects approximately 4,000 units of blood daily and supports over 500 hospitals across multiple states, detected the security breach over the weekend of January 26.
After noticing unusual activity within its IT systems, the organization swiftly enlisted cybersecurity experts to investigate. Their findings confirmed that ransomware was responsible for the disruption.
In response, NYBC took immediate measures to contain the attack, including temporarily shutting down certain systems while working toward a secure restoration. Despite the ongoing challenges, the organization continues to accept blood donations but warned that some appointments may need to be rescheduled.
The attack comes just days after NYBC issued a blood emergency following a dramatic 30% decline in donations, resulting in 6,500 fewer units collected and severely impacting regional blood supplies.
At this time, it remains unclear whether the attackers accessed or stole sensitive donor information. No ransomware group has claimed responsibility yet.
As NYBC works to restore its systems, it is urging donors to continue making appointments to help address the ongoing blood shortage and ensure hospitals receive the critical supplies they need.
