---
title: Cyberattack hits University of New Mexico Health: ambulances diverted from the state's only Level I trauma center, outpatient surgeries and appointments cancelled | ctxsec
url: https://ctxsec.com/items/unm-health-sciences-cyberattack-ambulance-diversion-oct-26
description: ""
status: "official (UNM Health Sciences Center statements, Oct 26); investigation ongoing; cause and data impact not disclosed"
published: 2026-10-27
---

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[← Cybersecurity News](/news) · [markdown](/items/unm-health-sciences-cyberattack-ambulance-diversion-oct-26.md)

official (UNM Health Sciences Center statements, Oct 26); investigation ongoing; cause and data impact not disclosed

2026-10-27

### Cyberattack hits University of New Mexico Health: ambulances diverted from the state's only Level I trauma center, outpatient surgeries and appointments cancelled

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, which includes UNM Hospital and the UNM Health clinical system, says it had a **"cybersecurity event"** on **Monday, Oct 26**. UNM's IT alert page dates the start to about 11:30 a.m. Mountain time.

- **Patient impact:** an early-afternoon notice said all ambulance traffic was being diverted and all clinic appointments that day were cancelled. UNM later said it limited new patients from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., suspended outpatient surgeries and appointments for the rest of the day, and began bringing systems back in phases from 2:30 p.m.
- **Campus:** classes on the Health Sciences campus were cancelled, and academic and research units stay closed on Tuesday, Oct 27. Hospital and medical group staff were told to return to work. UNM says main and branch campus systems were not affected.
- **Response:** HSC says it contained the event, set up an emergency operations center, and notified state and federal law enforcement. It has not said what kind of attack it was or whether data was taken, citing the active investigation.

AP notes that UNM Hospital is New Mexico's only Level I trauma center. Ransomware claims and reports of "HACKED" screens are circulating online but are **not confirmed** by UNM. This item will be updated when UNM releases more.

Sources: [UNM HSC Newsroom: Update on Cybersecurity Event at UNM Health Sciences Center (updated 6:08 p.m. MT, Oct 26)](https://hscnews.unm.edu/news/ambulance-traffic-diverted-clinical-appointments-cancelled-and-classes-cancelled-due-to-cybersecurity-issue-at-unm-hsc) · [UNM IT Alerts: Cybersecurity Issue Affecting UNM Health Sciences Center Services (Oct 26)](https://italerts.unm.edu/) · [AP: Cybersecurity issue knocks out a major New Mexico hospital network (Oct 26)](https://apnews.com/article/new-mexico-health-cybersecurity-hack-7a3593f8a3cee4ca895774ab1574919f)