UMMC Cyberattack Disrupts Healthcare, Puts Children’s Lives at Risk

A cyberattack on the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) on February 19, 2026, continues to disrupt patient care across the state, with particularly concerning consequences for children with complex medical needs. The attack forced UMMC to cancel appointments and elective procedures, leading to delays in critical treatments and raising anxieties for families.

Impact on Pediatric Patients

The cyberattack has directly impacted children requiring specialized care at Children’s of Mississippi Hospital, the state’s only dedicated children’s hospital and home to the only Level I pediatric trauma unit and pediatric intensive care unit. The hospital treats approximately 275,000 children annually, many with conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, allergies and diabetes.

Ashley Wall’s 9-month-ancient son, Levi, who is undergoing cancer treatment, experienced a delay in a critical bone marrow test as a result of the attack. The test, crucial for determining his treatment path, was postponed until Thursday and results, normally available within days, may take up to a week. Wall temporarily brought Levi home, his first time away from the hospital since August, rather than risk further delays. Source

Similarly, Jack Harwell, an 18-year-old with severe non-verbal autism, cerebral palsy, and agitated catatonia, has missed three electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments, causing a return of his violent symptoms. His mother, Mary Harwell, expressed concern about the potential need to restart treatments at a higher frequency due to the disruption. Initially, another Mississippi hospital was unable to treat Jack due to a lack of access to his UMMC medical records.

Jack Jacobs, a high school student with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, had a necessary heart procedure scheduled for February 24th, but it was canceled due to the cyberattack. His mother, Susan Jacobs, expressed anxiety over the uncertainty surrounding the rescheduling of the procedure.

Beyond Scheduled Procedures: Access to Medication and Emergency Care

The impact extends beyond scheduled procedures. Families have faced challenges accessing medication and even deciding whether to seek emergency care. Jayln Hughes, an 8-year-old with severe asthma, was taken to urgent care instead of the UMMC emergency room due to concerns about the security of her health information during the cyberattack. Her grandmother, Alisa Hughes, stated she “didn’t feel confident taking her to this time.”

The Wall family also encountered difficulties obtaining Levi’s medication, requiring out-of-pocket payment for a $200 prescription due to prior authorization issues exacerbated by the hospital’s phone lines being down. Hospital staff later indicated the prior authorization message had not been received.

Ransomware and Patient Mortality

Experts warn of the potentially deadly consequences of ransomware attacks on hospitals. Dr. Hannah Neprash, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, found that hospitals targeted by ransomware experienced a 34% to 38% increase in mortality rates among Medicare patients during the attack, compared to the five weeks prior. Source The impact was most severe for patients with complex medical needs.

UMMC’s Response and Ongoing Recovery

UMMC is working to restore its systems and anticipates resuming normal clinic operations as early as Monday. However, the medical center has not yet released details regarding the extent of the attack, the timeline for rescheduling appointments, or whether any data has been compromised. The last press conference was held on February 19th, the day of the attack.

Dr. Alan Jones, the associate vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, stated the hospital regularly prepares for operational disruptions during scheduled maintenance. However, Dr. Neprash suggests that downtime protocols may not be sufficient preparation for the prolonged disruptions caused by ransomware attacks.

Looking Ahead

For many families in Mississippi, particularly those with children facing serious medical conditions, waiting for UMMC to resume normal operations is their only option. As Mary Harwell stated, “We have no choice.” The ongoing situation highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures and comprehensive disaster recovery plans to protect patient care and ensure access to essential healthcare services.