Flea Market Finds Memory Stick with 253 COVID Isolation Records – Pirkanmaa Health Region Files Criminal Complaint

by Emma Walker – News Editor

Patient and personal data may have been exposed to outsiders in Akaa and Urjala.

The person who found the USB stick delivered it to the Pirkanmaa Welfare Area in December. Image: Petteri Sopanen / Yle

A USB stick containing 253 isolation and quarantine decisions made in Akaa and Urjala was found for sale at a flea market in the Pirkanmaa region.

The decisions were made between 2020–2021.

the Pirkanmaa Welfare Area reported this in a press release.

The person who found the USB stick delivered it to the Pirkanmaa Welfare Area in December. It is indeed not known who handled the USB stick and how it ended up at the flea market.

This data breach could lead to identity theft. The welfare area is contacting the affected customers directly.

A criminal report has also been filed.

– We are very sorry about this. We take errors in the handling of customer and patient data very seriously and always investigate them. The welfare area has guidelines for the safe use of patient data to prevent such situations from happening,” says Chief Medical Officer Sirpa Rainesalo in the press release.

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