Mitchell Joseph Valdes Sosa, the director of the Cuban Neurosciences Center, walks past a photo of Fidel Castro before a press conference about symptoms reported by U.S. and Canadian diplomats, commonly referred to as the « Havana Syndrome, » in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 13, 2021.
The mysterious illness now known as “Havana Syndrome” first began afflicting U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers in Cuba’s capital, Havana, in late 2016. Victims reported the sudden onset of a range of symptoms such as headaches, nausea, memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. The initial cluster of cases confounded medical experts.
Now, nearly five years later, as many as 200 incidents have been reported among U.S. personnel in a list of countries that includes everywhere from Russia to China to Colombia to Uzbekistan and even the United States itself.
Earlier this month, a member of CIA Director Bill Burns’ team reported experiencing symptoms consistent with Havana Syndrome while traveling to India. In August, two U.S. personnel in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, also reportedly suffered from “unexplained health incidents” just prior to the arrival of Vice President Harris.
Here’s what we know about Havana Syndrome, its potential causes and who may be behind it.
What to know
What exactly is Havana Syndrome?
When was it first documented?
Who and what may be causing it?
What is the United States doing in response?
What exactly is Havana Syndrome?
The exact cause of Havana Syndrome is unknown and U.S. officials refer to potential cases as “anomalous health incidents,” even as government investigators continue to probe its origins.
The condition is characterized by a broad range of unexplained symptoms that include migraines, fatigue, vertigo, anxiety, dizziness, memory lapses and cognitive impairment. Some of those affected have said that they felt as though they were hit by a blast wave or beam of energy. In some cases, the symptoms were intermittent; in others, they persisted and required long-term care.
When was it first documented?
The first known cases were reported among U.S. and Canadian personnel in Cuba in late 2016. CIA officers stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Havana reported feeling intense fatigue, nausea and pulsating pressure in their heads.
TANIKO Madagascar 