A cybersecurity issue forced the University of New Mexico Health System to divert ambulances to other hospitals and cancel appointments at more than 30 clinics on Monday 26 October 2026, leaving the state without an emergency department capable of treating the most serious injuries. The system operates New Mexico's only Level 1 trauma centre, in Albuquerque.

Clinics cancelled, classes dismissed

The health system told people not to come to its main hospital in Albuquerque for scheduled care, and its Health Sciences Center dismissed students and non-essential employees for the rest of Monday, cancelling in-person and virtual classes in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and population health. Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Lovelace Health System said they were coordinating with UNM, including taking additional patients. The health system conducts about 900,000 outpatient visits and receives 100,000 emergency room visits each year.

What is and is not confirmed

The extent and nature of the incident were not immediately clear, and the system said it was working to resolve the issue. Some employees reported hearing computer messages claiming student, employee and patient data had been stolen, but that claim has not been confirmed, and a spokesperson would not comment while the incident remains an active law enforcement investigation, with the FBI assisting. Later on Monday the system said hospitals and clinics were resuming operations in phases, with clinics due to resume appointments scheduled for Tuesday 27 October.

Sources: SecurityWeek via Cybernoz; Help Net Security, 27 October 2026.