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Story URL: http://software.silicon.com/malware/0,3800003100,39351686,00.htm

Hospitals' virus infection: Is the end in sight?
Malware fighters work weekend to bring hospital cure

By Jo Best

Published: Monday 24 November 2008

The computer virus infection that first struck Barts and the London NHS Trust last Tuesday could be coming to an end, with the Trust predicting it won't be long now until the outbreak is mopped up.

The virus, which the hospital has identified as the Mytob worm, infected the Trust's network leaving some staff without computer access for days.

Despite a "team of IT specialists" working over the weekend to clean infected PCs and bring them back online, some machines are still yet to be fixed.

A spokesman for Barts and the London, which includes Barts in the City, The Royal London in Whitechapel and The London Chest in Bethnal Green, said the Trust is "getting there" with its recovery plans.

"We expect it to be resolved and have everyone back online in a day or two. I can say we're making good progress, the network is stable and the investigation is ongoing.

"It's almost back to business as usual," he added.

During the attack, theatres, outpatient appointments and A&E all remained operational, however some operations were rescheduled.

The PCs have been brought back online on a priority basis, according to the Trust, with clinical areas getting their computers back first.

The Trust's spokesman rejected a newspaper report which suggested there were concerns the virus may have been introduced maliciously.

"The information [those investigating the virus] have at hand has nothing to suggest it was a malicious attack," the spokesman told silicon.com.