Fraser Health has been hit by a technology outage that disrupted Microsoft networks worldwide Friday (July 19), but emergency services seem to be untouched.
The biggest institutional impact from the CrowdStrike outage in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley seems to be to Fraser Health.
In an emailed statement, the health authority notes the B.C. Health system has been impacted, and appealed for patience.
"We have implemented contingency plans to ensure that our health-care services remain operational and that patient care is not disrupted to the best of our ability," the statement continues.
"Please refer to the fraserhealth.ca website for updates. If you have any questions about a health-care appointment today, please call your health-care providers. Please do not call hospital Switchboard at this time. Our care providers appreciate your patience today."
An E-Comm spokesperson confirmed its communications systems were not affected.
"As always, it is important to remember that general questions and complaints do not belong on the emergency line," Kelly Furey noted.
"9-1-1 is for reporting an immediate threat to safety, a crime in progress, or situations where someone is in medical distress."
BC Emergency Health Services' communications manager Bowen Osoko said BCEHS is aware of the issue, but so far, "has not had significant impacts to our own systems."
"We continue to monitor the situation," Osoko added.
Peace Arch News has reached out to border officials for comment on potential disruptions at Canada-U.S. land border crossings.
More to come as updates become available.
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows – and that the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue affected Microsoft 365 apps and services, and escalating disruptions continued after the technology company said it was gradually fixing the problem.
- with files from Tom Zytaruk and CP
