Havana syndrome

In August 2017, reports began surfacing that American and Canadian diplomatic personnel in Cuba had experienced unusual, unexplained health problems dating back to late 2016. The State Department declared that the health problems were either the result of an attack, or due to exposure to an as-yet-unknown device. The number of American citizens experiencing symptoms was 26 as of June 2018. In February 2019, there was no evidence that there was any evidence of sonic attacks in the United States or Canada.

About Havana syndrome in brief

Summary Havana syndromeIn August 2017, reports began surfacing that American and Canadian diplomatic personnel in Cuba had experienced unusual, unexplained health problems dating back to late 2016. The State Department declared that the health problems were either the result of an attack, or due to exposure to an as-yet-unknown device. Affected individuals described symptoms such as hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea. Speculation centered around a sonic weapon, with some researchers pointing to infrasound as a possible cause. In December 2020, a study by an expert committee of the U. S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, released its report, concluding that directed microwave radiation was the likely cause of illnesses among American diplomats in Cuba and China. The number of American citizens experiencing symptoms was 26 as of June 2018. The U.S. State Department announced it would continue to staff its embassy in Havana at the minimum level required to perform core diplomatic and consular functions. The embassy had been operating under ordered departure status since September, but the status was set to expire. In January 2018, the Associated Press reported that a non-public FBI report found no evidence of an intentional sonic attack. A November 2018 report in the New Yorker found that the FBI’s investigation into the incidents was stymied by conflict with the CIA and the State Department. The CIA was reluctant to reveal the identities of affected officers, because of the CIA’s concern about possible leaks. In spring of 2018, Global Affairs Canada ended family postings to Cuba and withdrew all staff with families.

Several Canadians who were impacted in 2017 were reported to still be unable to resume their work due to the severity of their ailments. In March 2018, MRI scans and other tests by a chief neurologist in Pittsburgh showed evidence of brain damage that mirrored some of their American counterparts. In February 2019, there was no evidence that there was any evidence of sonic attacks in the United States or Canada. The United States and Canada are working together to develop a plan to combat the spread of disease in Cuba, including the use of stem cell therapy, stem cell transplants, and other treatments. In October 2017, President Donald Trump said that \”I do believe Cuba’s responsible. I do believe that\”, going on to say \”And it’s a very unusual attack, as you know. But I do think Cuba is responsible.\” In October 2018, State Department convened an Accountability Review Board, which is an internal State Department mechanism to review security incidents involving diplomatic personnel. The board was chosen by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to lead the investigation. In April 2018, it was announced that the State Dept. would not be removing non-essential staff from the US embassy, and warned U. s. citizens not to travel to Cuba. This announcement served to extend the staff reductions indefinitely. In September, the US State Department stated that it was removingnon-essentialStaff from theUS embassy. In September 2018, U. S. diplomats in China reported problems similar to those reported in Cuba as well as undercover C. I. A. agents operating in other countries.