Governor Albert Bryan Jr. publicly addressed ongoing issues at Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center (JFL) during press briefing on Tuesday, highlighting a cybersecurity threat affecting the facility, among other managerial issues. “If you look at JFL, which is under another crisis as we speak today, with some ransomware…” he said.
The governor’s comments followed JFL’s announcement regarding a recent data security incident. The hospital said it detected the breach affecting its computer networks on Sunday. Upon discovering the incident, the hospital said it launched a detailed investigation and implemented measures designed to mitigate any associated risks, according to a statement on its official Facebook page.
This cybersecurity issue at JFL follows closely on the heels of another ransomware attack affecting a local government agency, the Virgin Islands Lottery (VIL). The VIL recently announced it would reopen on April 29 after several weeks of operational disruptions due to a cyberattack that compromised its entire network. Hackers demanded a ransom of $1 million, which was explicitly refused by VIL Director Raymond Williams. Instead, Williams authorized a comprehensive rebuild of the lottery’s systems from scratch. The VIL has since resumed operations, honoring tickets for draw number 1047 and prior winning tickets dating back 180 days.
Despite the cybersecurity incident, JFL reassured the community that clinical services have not been disrupted. Both inpatient and outpatient services remain fully operational, allowing uninterrupted healthcare provision to the community, according to the hospital.
In addressing public concerns, JFL stressed its ongoing commitment to data security and privacy, stating, “At JFL, the privacy and security of the personal information we maintain is of the utmost importance.”
The hospital promised additional updates as more details about the cybersecurity breach become available.
