Lakelands Public Health has disclosed a cybersecurity incident involving records stored on servers at its Peterborough office.
The health unit says suspicious activity was discovered on January 29, prompting an investigation that determined an unauthorized third party had gained remote access to a limited portion of its network.
According to Lakelands Public Health, files containing personal information and personal health information were accessed, extracted and encrypted. All affected files were successfully restored from backups.
Officials estimate approximately 60,000 current and former residents of Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough may have been affected. The incident involves people who received services through the Peterborough office, or whose health information was received there, between 1996 and January 2026.
The organization says the information involved may include names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, OHIP numbers, medical and vaccination records, treatment information and healthcare provider details. Not every individual had all categories of information affected.
Lakelands Public Health says there is currently no evidence the information has been published online or misused for identity theft or fraud.
The incident has been reported to law enforcement and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. The health unit says it has also retained cybersecurity experts, enhanced network security and continues to monitor for any misuse of the information.
Residents do not need to take any immediate action but are encouraged to monitor their personal accounts and remain cautious of unsolicited requests for personal information.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
