Mississippi hospital system shuts clinics after ransomware attack

UMMC forced to cancel procedures as it works to restore systems after cybersecurity breach.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was forced to close all of its roughly three dozen clinics around the state and cancel elective procedures for two days after a ransomware attack crippled the hospital system's computer networks. UMMC said its electronic medical record system and other key IT systems were taken offline due to the cybersecurity incident, which officials expect will disrupt operations for multiple days.

Why it matters

Ransomware attacks on healthcare providers have become increasingly common, with cybercriminals targeting sensitive patient data and critical systems. The shutdown of UMMC's clinics and procedures highlights the significant operational and financial impact these attacks can have on hospitals, which are already under strain from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The ransomware attack forced UMMC to close all of its roughly 35 clinics across Mississippi on Thursday and Friday. The hospital system also had to cancel many scheduled appointments and elective procedures during this time. UMMC said its electronic medical record system, which stores patient medical histories, was among the key IT systems taken offline by the cybersecurity breach.

  • The ransomware attack occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • UMMC was forced to close all of its clinics and cancel procedures on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)

The state's only academic medical center and largest healthcare provider, operating dozens of clinics across Mississippi.

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What’s next

UMMC officials said they are working to restore their computer systems and resume normal operations as soon as possible, but did not provide a specific timeline for when clinics and procedures would resume.

The takeaway

The ransomware attack on UMMC highlights the growing threat of cybercrime targeting the healthcare industry, which can have severe consequences for patient care and hospital operations. This incident underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and incident response plans at medical facilities to mitigate the impact of such attacks.