Durham Region Health Loses Personal Information of over 80 Thousand People

Personal health information for 83,524 people has gone astray with the loss of a USB key in Durham Region.


The device contained data collected from everyone who attended H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccination clinics in the region between Oct. 23 and Dec. 15. It was lost on regional headquarters property at Rossland Rd. and Garden St. while being taken to a local clinic, said a health department news release.

The information stored on the USB key includes personal information such as name, address, phone number, date of birth, health card number, doctor's name and any health details provided at the time of vaccination.
A search of the area failed to find the device but the health department doesn't believe it was deliberately taken.

A letter will be sent out to those affected. Anyone with concerns or questions is advised to contact Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729.

It seems to me that we hear about this sort of thing more and more often these days. It has to make one wonder how safe all this technology is in the hands of the typical government or healthcare worker.  This will also do nothing to encourage people to get a flu shot in the future.