Computer virus shuts down Ambulance dispatch service
- 13 February, 2011 14:47
- Comments 4
The Ambulance Service of NSW says no lives have been at risk despite the computer system it uses to send paramedics to emergencies being infected by a virus for more than 24 hours and no timescale for when it will be back online.
The ambulance service's computer dispatch system became infected by a virus at about 1pm (AEDT) on Saturday, forcing staff to shut it down and revert to co-ordinating the state's paramedics and ambulances via a manual paper-based system.
Despite this, general manager of operations Mike Willis said he was unaware of any delays to triple-zero calls or any "adverse patient outcomes".
The cause and source of the virus were unknown and the system was still offline at 1pm (AEDT) on Sunday and it was not known when it would be back up and running, Willis said.
"It's important to note that at no time during that shutdown procedure were any triple-zero calls or in fact the integrity of our operation breached," he told reporters in Sydney.
"We're still taking calls and dispatching ambulances, albeit using manual operations."
The system used by the service has been in place for 10 years and had never previously been breached by a virus, Willis said.
An investigation into the cause has been launched.
The computer system would not operate again until technicians are sure the virus has been fully removed, Willis said.
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Comments
linsongyang
This in 2011, not 2001, even by then, a SYSTEM is down is simply NOT allowed. The immediate reaction would be the IT managers should be sacked immediately at the first place. Why Google not affected, why not yahoo, why not that dude's computer, why? why not? where are the backups? Not a SINGLE one backup system?! You got be right! Have they drilled any plans for this kind of emergency?! Have they NOT anticipated and prepared for this kind of virus affections? Jesus!
Zoltari
It does seem a little odd that a virus can bring down a system for so long... Back in 2000 I could believe it - I remeber 'I love you' causing some major problems for big companies back then, but now? Backups should be in place, systems should be centrally controlled and adminstrated with proper AV systems in place at points where viruses could present a threat.
This just sounds like bad contingency planning.
Bill Bunting
They may well have had AV in place and it simply slipped past it. Wasn't Google recently hacked as well? Doesn't matter how big or small a company is you have to remain vigilant.
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