**AZ Monica Hospital in Belgium Shuts Down Servers After Cyberattack**
In a shocking turn of events, the AZ Monica hospital network in Belgium has been forced to shut down all its servers after suffering a devastating cyberattack. The attack, which was detected early yesterday morning, has left the hospital with no choice but to cancel scheduled procedures and transfer critical patients to other facilities.
The AZ Monica hospital network operates two campuses in Antwerp and Deurne, providing a wide range of medical services to the local population. The hospital's IT systems were shut down at 6:32 a.m. as a precautionary measure after the attack was detected.
"This morning (6:32 a.m.), AZ Monica experienced a serious disruption to its IT systems," reads a statement published by the hospital. "As a precaution, all servers for the campuses in Deurne and Antwerp were proactively shut down." The statement goes on to explain that the cyberattack has had a significant impact on the hospital's operations, with no scheduled surgeries possible today and the emergency department operating at reduced capacity.
The hospital has confirmed that it is continuing to provide urgent care to its current patients, but non-urgent consultations have been postponed due to staff being unable to access digital medical records. The hospital has also safely transferred seven critical patients with the support of the Red Cross.
The AZ Monica hospital network has launched an investigation into the incident and notified both the police and prosecutors. Authorities have not confirmed any ransom demands, but unverified claims have been reported by local media outlets.
Cyberattacks on hospitals are a growing concern, as they can disrupt critical medical services and put patients' lives at risk. These attacks can also expose sensitive patient data and force hospitals to divert patients, creating wider pressure on healthcare services.
The hospital emphasized that patient safety and continuity of care remain its top priorities and is closely monitoring the situation with further updates to follow.
As the investigation into the incident continues, it remains to be seen how severe the impact will be on the AZ Monica hospital network. One thing is certain, however - cyberattacks like this one highlight the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive medical data and ensuring continuity of care.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.