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The state Department
of Health is investigating a potential breach of private medical information of disease test results.
The DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division, which investigates cases that affect public health,
detected the suspicious
activity last week on its
reporting system. The data was compromised, and the affected server was removed from its network, the department said.
The Health Department didn’t know how many
records may have been
affected, but said it is conducting an investigation to “determine the full extent
of the compromise and its potential impact.” The
department collects data on the mumps, rat lungworm disease and other
reportable conditions.
Federal and state law
enforcement agencies are involved in the probe.
“Although there is no
evidence of data being
stolen, the department is acting in an abundance
of caution to prevent any possible breach and secure individual data,” Health
Director Virginia Pressler said in a news release. “The department is working closely with ETS (Enterprise Technology Services) to ensure safeguards are in place to restore confidence in the system, which is vital to the tracking and controlling of infectious
diseases in the state.”