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{{Short description|Symptoms reported by US officials abroad}} | |||
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{{Short description|Medical symptoms of unknown origin, reported primarily by overseas government workers}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} | {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} | ||
{{Use American English|date=April 2018}} | {{Use American English|date=April 2018}} | ||
{{Infobox medical condition (new) | {{Infobox medical condition (new) | ||
| name |
| name = Havana syndrome | ||
| image |
| image = File:Hotelnacionale.jpg | ||
| alt |
| alt = | ||
| caption |
| caption = The ] is one of the locations where the syndrome has reportedly been experienced.<ref>{{cite web|website=Travel.state.gov |title=Cuba Travel Advisory|url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/cuba-travel-advisory.html|publisher=Department of State|access-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180130085013/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/cuba-travel-advisory.html|archive-date=January 30, 2018|date=January 10, 2018}}</ref> | ||
| symptoms |
| symptoms = | ||
| causes = Not determined<ref name="Asadi-Pooya">{{cite journal |author=Asadi-Pooya Ali A.|title=Havana syndrome: a scoping review of the existing literature |journal=Rev Environ Health |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=655–661 |date=December 2023 |pmid=35962646 |doi=10.1515/reveh-2021-0182 |type=Review}}</ref><ref name="Connolly">{{Cite journal |last1=Connolly |first1=Matthew |last2=Hawkshaw |first2=Mary J. |last3=Sataloff |first3=Robert T. |date=2024-07-01 |title=Havana syndrome: Overview for otolaryngologists |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196070924001182 |journal=American Journal of Otolaryngology |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=104332 |doi=10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104332 |pmid=38663328 |issn=0196-0709}}</ref> | |||
| causes = Not determined<ref name=GuardianFeb2023/><ref name = WPost/> | |||
| named after = ] (Capital City of ]) | |||
| differential = ], ]<ref name = MPI/><ref name="Flam">{{cite web |last1=Flam |first1=Faye |title=Havana Syndrome Is a Mystery, But Not of Physics |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-03-02/havana-syndrome-is-a-mystery-but-not-of-physics?srnd=opinion&leadSource=uverify%20wall |website=Bloomberg |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230304032846/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-03-02/havana-syndrome-is-a-mystery-but-not-of-physics?srnd=opinion&leadSource=uverify%20wall#selection-3463.0-3463.9 |archive-date=4 March 2023 |date=2 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| synonyms = Anomalous health incidents<ref name="Dept of State">{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/anomalous-health-incidents-and-the-health-incident-response-task-force/ |title=Anomalous Health Incidents and the Health Incident Response Task Force |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=December 11, 2022 |language=en-US |date=November 5, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217231551/https://www.state.gov/anomalous-health-incidents-and-the-health-incident-response-task-force/ }}</ref><br/>Unexplained health incidents<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=2021-04-29 |title=White House investigating 'unexplained health incidents' similar to Havana syndrome |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/29/us-unexplained-health-incidents-officials-washington |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><br/>Unexplained health incidents<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=2021-04-29 |title=White House investigating 'unexplained health incidents' similar to Havana syndrome |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/29/us-unexplained-health-incidents-officials-washington |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><br/>Unidentified health incidents<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Eric |date=2021-11-02 |title=We're All in This Together |url=https://afsa.org/were-all-together |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Havana syndrome''', also known as Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), is a disputed medical condition. It is not officially recognized as a disease by the medical community. Starting in 2016, U.S. and Canadian government officials and their families reported symptoms of AHIs in overseas locations including Cuba, China, India, Vienna, Hanoi, Berlin, London, and Taiwan. Symptoms were also reported in the US, in Washington, D.C. Reported symptoms include a sudden onset associated with a perceived localized loud sound, followed by chronic symptoms that lasted for months, such as balance, dizziness, cognitive problems, insomnia, and headaches. | |||
A number of government and non-government agencies have conducted investigations into the AHIs, including the ] (2018), ] (2018), FBI's ] (2018), ] (2018 and 2022), ] (2019), ] (2020), ] (2020), ] (2020), ] (2021), seven intelligence agencies under the auspices of the ] (2023), and ] (2024). Several news organizations also conducted investigations. | |||
'''Havana syndrome''' (formally "'''anomalous health incidents'''"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/anomalous-health-incidents-and-the-health-incident-response-task-force/ |title=Anomalous Health Incidents and the Health Incident Response Task Force |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=December 11, 2022 |language=en-US |date=November 5, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217231551/https://www.state.gov/anomalous-health-incidents-and-the-health-incident-response-task-force/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11850| title=FY2022 NDAA: Care for Anomalous Health Incident Victims |publisher=] | access-date=December 12, 2022| language=en-US| date=February 7, 2022| url-status=live| archive-date=December 12, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212172353/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11850}}</ref>) is a controversial medical condition reported by U.S. and Canadian government officials and military personnel who are primarily stationed in overseas locations. Reported symptoms range in severity from pain and ] to cognitive dysfunction<ref name="pmid33341130">{{cite journal | vauthors = Nelson R | title = Havana syndrome might be the result of energy pulses | journal = Lancet | volume = 396 | issue = 10267 | pages = 1954 | date = December 2021 | pmid = 33341130 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32711-2 | s2cid = 229306878 }}</ref><ref name="The Economist">{{cite news | title=The world this week, Oct 16th 2021 edition – Politics | newspaper=The Economist | url=https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2021/10/16/politics | access-date=October 15, 2021 | archive-date=August 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818040111/https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2021/10/16/politics | url-status=live }}</ref> and were first reported in 2016 by U.S. and Canadian embassy staff in ]. Beginning in 2017, more people, including U.S. intelligence and military personnel and their families, reported having these symptoms in other places, such as ], ],<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cia-officer-on-india-trip-reports-havana-syndrome-symptoms-causes-7525418/ |title = Explained: CIA officer on India trip reports Havana Syndrome; what is known about its symptoms and causes so far|date = September 24, 2021|access-date = February 21, 2022|archive-date = July 11, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220711090305/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cia-officer-on-india-trip-reports-havana-syndrome-symptoms-causes-7525418/|url-status = live}}</ref> ], and ]<ref name=Strobel/> Some studies indicated that foreign actors were not responsible for most cases.<ref name="GuardianFeb2023" /><ref name="CDC" /><ref name=":2" /> | |||
None of the investigations has been able to determine the cause with certainty. Possible causes considered by investigators included toxic chemicals, infectious diseases, energy weapons, and psychological/social causes. Investigators determined that toxic chemicals & infectious diseases were unlikely to be causes. | |||
In 2019 and 2020, some U.S. government representatives attributed the incidents to attacks by unidentified foreign actors,<ref name=HudsonHarris/> and various U.S. officials blamed the reported symptoms on a variety of unidentified and unknown technologies, including ], ],<ref name="WilliamsHerb"/> ], and ].<ref name="Chartrand2">{{cite news|first1=Luc|last1=Chartrand|first2=Martin|last2=Movilla|first3=Lisa|last3=Ellenwood|date=September 19, 2019|title=Havana syndrome: Exposure to neurotoxin may have been cause, study suggests|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/havana-syndrome-neurotoxin-enqu%C3%AAte-1.5288609|url-status=live|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920022556/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/havana-syndrome-neurotoxin-enqu%C3%AAte-1.5288609|archive-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> All suggested causes were speculative, as no undisputed evidence was discovered.<ref name="WilliamsHerb"/> As the story developed, and the ] could not determine the cause of the symptoms, U.S. intelligence and government officials expressed suspicions to the press that ] was responsible.<ref name=Myre>Greg Myre, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120144510/https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040422112/cia-recalls-vienna-station-chief-in-move-related-to-handling-of-havana-syndrome |date=November 20, 2021 }}, NPR (September 24, 2021).</ref><ref name="politicounit"/><ref name=Entous>{{Cite web|author=Adam Entous|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|title=Are U.S. Officials Under Silent Attack?|newspaper=The New Yorker|date=May 31, 2021|quote=Top officials in both the Trump and the Biden Administrations privately suspect that Russia is responsible for the Havana Syndrome. Their working hypothesis is that agents of the G.R.U., the Russian military's intelligence service, have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials to collect intelligence from their computers and cell phones, and that these devices can cause serious harm to the people they target.|access-date=June 4, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601232849/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Beginning in 2022, several major studies were published, and none of them found any evidence of involvement by a hostile power with ] explanations becoming more predominant. In January 2022, the ] issued an interim assessment concluding that the syndrome is not the result of "a sustained global campaign by a hostile power". Foreign involvement was ruled out in 976 cases of the 1,000 reviewed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Most 'Havana Syndrome' Cases Unlikely Caused by Foreign Power, C.I.A. Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/us/politics/havana-syndrome-cia-report.html|access-date=January 21, 2022|work=]|date=January 20, 2022|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|archive-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129005959/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/us/politics/havana-syndrome-cia-report.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=CIA says 'Havana Syndrome' not result of sustained campaign by hostile power|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cia-says-havana-syndrome-not-result-sustained-global-campaign-hostile-rcna12838|date=January 20, 2022|access-date=January 20, 2022|publisher=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128160228/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cia-says-havana-syndrome-not-result-sustained-global-campaign-hostile-rcna12838|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2022, a panel of experts assembled by the ] released an executive summary stating that radio waves could be the cause of injuries reported by some CIA officers and diplomats, but the majority of Havana syndrome incidents could be explained by stress or psychosomatic reactions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Julian E.|date=February 2, 2022|title=Panel Says Some Havana Syndrome Cases May Stem From Radio Energy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/us/politics/havana-syndrome-radio-energy.html|access-date=February 4, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203223642/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/us/politics/havana-syndrome-radio-energy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2022, the State Department released a report by the ], which stated that it was unlikely that a directed energy attack had caused the health incidents.<ref name="JASON2021">{{cite web |title=An Analysis of Data and Hypotheses Related to the Embassy Incidents |url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JASON-Study-Revised_10-February-2022-Redacted_V1.1.pdf |website=state.gov |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014084219/https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JASON-Study-Revised_10-February-2022-Redacted_V1.1.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |language=en-US |date=February 10, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2023, seven U.S. intelligence agencies completed a review of the proposed cases of Havana syndrome and released an unclassified report with the consensus that "available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely".<ref name=GuardianFeb2023/><ref name = WPost/> Despite this report, ]-funded experiments which attempted to recreate Havana syndrome in animals by exposing them to ] waves for extended periods continued.<ref name =SELIGMAN1/> In March 2024, the ] published two medical studies evaluating people reporting Havana syndrome symptoms, and found no evidence of brain injury, irregular blood biomarkers, or vocational impairment.<ref name=Barnes>{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Julian E. |title=New Studies Find No Evidence of Brain Injury in Havana Syndrome Cases |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/us/politics/havana-syndrome-brain-studies-nih.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR1JP9n5YbFK-W1fI0JSw15D0_YS4ckmo1Keo-oFyWUyyNEdNxzqas1gP8M |website=] |access-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240318215621/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/us/politics/havana-syndrome-brain-studies-nih.html#selection-4707.0-4719.105 |archive-date=18 March 2024 |date=18 March 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN3">"Despite symptoms, NIH research finds no evidence of ‘Havana syndrome’ in brain scans" Katie Bo Lillis Jen Christensen, CNN, March 18, 2024 https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/health/havana-syndrome-studies/index.html</ref> But according to ], these findings do not exclude that a weapon could have injured the government workers, as "the most sophisticated brain scans can miss a subtle brain injury, especially if the brain has had time to heal".<ref name = NPR2024>https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/18/1239087164/nih-studies-no-pattern-harm-havana-syndrome-patients-brains</ref><ref>https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816534?resultClick=1</ref> | |||
The most recent and thorough investigations determined that foreign adversaries are unlikely to be the source of AHIs. The use of energy weapons was determined to be consistent with the reported AHI symptoms, but no direct causal relation has been established, partially because there is little experimental research on the impact of energy weapons on the human brain. Recent medical research has not found statistically significant evidence of brain injuries in AHI patients. | |||
{{TOC limit|4}} | |||
Some investigations stated that it is difficult to prove or disprove if psychological/social factors are responsible for AHI symptoms, but some researchers stated that psychological/social factors are a potential cause; and, if there is another primary cause for some symptoms, that psychological/social factors may be a secondary, contributing cause. | |||
==Speculated causes of Havana syndrome== | |||
The U.S. government has established a variety of programs providing medical and financial support to persons that reported AHI symptoms, but some AHI patients continue to campaign for additional support. | |||
===Psychogenic causes=== | |||
{{TOC limit|2}} | |||
Some scientists have suggested that most cases of Havana syndrome are ] in nature, and are a form of ], ], or ]. They state that a psychogenic cause is the only explanation of Havana syndrome that is consistent with the vast majority of cases. In particular, they point to lack of evidence of attacks by hostile nations, and lack of medical evidence of damage to brain or health of purported victims.<ref name="Psych">"Havana Syndrome: Social Contagion or Mass Psychogenic Illness?" Arlen Gaba, BS, and Sahil Munjal, MD March 7, 2024 Psychiatrist.com https://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/havana-syndrome-social-contagion-mass-psychogenic-illness/</ref><ref name="RS1"/><ref name="MPI"/><ref name="HSPM">" 'Havana Syndrome': A post mortem. " Bartholomew RE, Baloh RW. ''International Journal of Social Psychiatry'' 2024;70(2):402-405. doi:10.1177/00207640231208374 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00207640231208374</ref><ref name="CNN3"/><ref name=Sherwood/> | |||
==Syndrome== | |||
Some scientists have suggested that some cases of Havana syndrome were the result of the stress of working overseas in countries that were former cold-war adversaries, where the job often involved anxiety of possible surveillance by the hostile nation. Some scientists have suggested that some cases of Havana syndrome are ] (PTSD) caused by such stress.<ref name="stress">Bartholomew RE, Baloh RW. Challenging the diagnosis of ‘Havana Syndrome’ as a novel clinical entity. | |||
Havana syndrome is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, pain, and cognitive problems. It is not a recognized ], and it is not recognized as a disease by the medical community. | |||
''Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine''. 2020;113(1):7-11. doi:10.1177/0141076819877553</ref><ref name="SK">"Headaches, fatigue and ‘sonic attacks’ ... but Havana syndrome might all be in the mind" Sarah Knapton 18 March 2024 ''The Telegraph'' https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/headaches-fatigue-and-sonic-attacks-but-havana-syndrome-might-all-be-in-the-mind/ar-BB1k69h6</ref><ref name="MPI"/> | |||
=== |
=== Signs and symptoms === | ||
Most of the affected individuals reported an ] onset of neurological symptoms associated with a perceived localized loud sound such as screeching, chirping, clicking, or piercing noises.<ref name="Asadi-Pooya"/><ref name="Connolly"/> Two-thirds experienced visual disturbances such as blurred vision and sensitivity to light. More than half reported intense pressure or vibration in the head, ear pain, diffuse head pain, and cognitive problems such as forgetfulness and poor concentration. ] and hearing loss occurred in one-third of cases, and dizziness or unsteady gait affected one-quarter.<ref name="Asadi-Pooya"/> | |||
Some commentators have suggested that the psychogenic hypothesis was downplayed by American politicians because the alternative "attack by foreign powers" hypothesis could be used as a political tool to increase tensions between the U.S. and former cold-war foes such as Cuba, Russia and China. Some commentators claimed that the Trump administration wished to damage the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and promoted the notion that Cuba (or its ally Russia) attacked the American diplomats.<ref name="SBL">"Is Havana Syndrome an ‘Act of War’ or ‘Mass Hysteria’?" Spencer Bokat-Lindell Oct. 26, 2021 ''New York Times'' https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/havana-syndrome-disorder.html</ref><ref name="Shure">"With 'Havana Syndrome', Washington Is Repeating Colin Powell’s Worst Mistake" Natalie Shure, October 21, 2021 ''New Republic'' https://newrepublic.com/article/164088/havana-syndrome-colin-powell-war</ref> <ref name="RS1">"The U.S. is spending millions on ‘Havana Syndrome’ research – but it’s not clear if it exists" Robert Skvarla 2023-03-16 ''Geopolitical Economy'' https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/03/16/us-spending-millions-havana-syndrome-research/</ref><ref name="MPI"/><ref name="HSPM"/> | |||
Some affected individuals develop ] that last for months, such as balance and cognitive problems, insomnia, and headaches. The longevity of symptoms is not yet clear, and they are less ] than are the acute symptoms.<ref name="Asadi-Pooya"/><ref name="Connolly"/> | |||
====Financial incentives==== | |||
Some commentators have suggested that the psychogenic hypothesis was downplayed by medical professionals and purported victims because they benefited financially from promoting the alternative "attack by foreign powers" hypothesis. Commentators suggested that medical professionals benefited with increased funding and recognition, as a result of researching or diagnosing Havana syndrome. Commentators also suggested that purported victims of Havana syndrome benefited by taking long-term medical leave from work, receiving workers compensation pay, and by receiving lump-sum cash payments (up to $187,000 each) from the US government under the HAVANA Act.<ref name="RS1"/><ref name="MPI"/> <ref name="CNN3"/> | |||
===Causes=== | |||
====Professional reluctance==== | |||
A 2024 ] by Connolly et al, surveying multiple peer-reviewed studies, concluded that the cause of AHIs is still unknown. The review discussed several possible causes, including ] and head trauma, but did not endorse a specific cause.<ref name="Connolly"/> | |||
Some commentators have suggested that the psychogenic hypothesis was downplayed by scientists studying Havana syndrome, for fear of offending the scientists that were supporting the "attack by hostile powers" hypothesis. Specifically, some commentators suggested that some medical professionals were afraid of retaliation if they criticized the conclusions of scientists that were more senior or in positions of power.<ref name="RDF">"Why the Havana Syndrome Happened" R. Douglas Field 2023 ''International Journal of Social Psychiatry'' https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640231212865 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00207640231212865</ref><ref name="MPI"/><ref name="HSPM"/> | |||
A 2023 review article written by Bartholomew and Baloh concluded that the AHIs are an example of mass psychogenic illness, rooted in a ] based on the fear of the Russians or Cubans attacking the U.S.. The authors stated that Havana Syndrome is "a socially constructed catch-all category for an array of pre-existing health conditions, responses to environmental factors, and stress reactions that were lumped under a single label".<ref name="bart4">{{cite journal |vauthors=Bartholomew RE, Baloh RW |date=December 25, 2023 |title="Havana Syndrome": A post mortem |url= |journal=Int J Soc Psychiatry |publication-date=December 25, 2023 |volume=70 |issue=2 |pages=402–405 |doi=10.1177/00207640231208374 |pmc=10913303 |pmid=38146090}}</ref><ref name="field2"> R. Douglas Fields, 2024. "Why the Havana Syndrome Happened," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, vol. 70(6), pages 1013-1015, September. </ref> | |||
====Media reports==== | |||
Some scientists and commentators have suggested that the psychogenic hypothesis was downplayed in the media because the alternative "attack by foreign powers" hypothesis was more sensational, and thus benefited the media by boosting readership and profits.<ref name="RM">"Havana Syndrome Is Fake. But Mainstream Media Couldn’t Get Enough of It for Years." Branko Marcetic 4 March 2023 ''The Jacobin'' https://jacobin.com/2023/03/havana-syndrome-government-report-debunking-intelligence-establishment-media</ref><ref name="TN1">"Havana Syndrome and the Psychosomatic Empire" 15 March 2023 ''The Nation'' https://www.thenation.com/podcast/world/tom-marcetic-havana/</ref><ref name="MPI"/><ref name="HSPM"/> | |||
An earlier review article written in 2022 by Asadi-Pooya considered several possible causes for the condition. It stated that a plausible explanation was the use of a ], with other possible causes including ]s, ], or exposure to ]. The authors cautioned that all studies included in their review were limited by small sample sizes, and that the underlying cause remains unidentified.<ref name="Asadi-Pooya"/> | |||
In January 2022, Ryan Cooper critiqued news coverage, writing in '']'' that there is "shame on the great many journalists and members of Congress who stoked inflammatory, implausible claims about magic Russian ray guns".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Ryna |title=A fake Russian ray gun destroyed the media's BS detector |url=https://theweek.com/foreign-affairs/1009211/a-fake-russian-ray-gun-destroyed-the-medias-bs-detector |access-date=April 15, 2022 |work=] |date=January 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415010835/https://theweek.com/foreign-affairs/1009211/a-fake-russian-ray-gun-destroyed-the-medias-bs-detector |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
===Number of people=== | |||
Robert Bartholomew, a ] specializing in ], has dismissed '']'' reports of a "smoking gun" connecting Havana syndrome to a foreign power or technology: "there is only smoke and mirrors generated by bad science and poor journalism".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bartholomew |first1=Robert |title=60 Minutes Whips Up 'Havana Syndrome' Hysteria, Airs Sensational Segment on White House 'Attacks' |url=https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/60-minutes-whips-up-havana-syndrome-hysteria-airs-sensational-segment-on-white-house-attacks/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |work=] |year=2021 |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508165420/https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/60-minutes-whips-up-havana-syndrome-hysteria-airs-sensational-segment-on-white-house-attacks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
The U.S. government has not released the number of persons reporting AHIs, but media reporting indicated a total of 26 people around 2017,<ref name="bbc33">"‘Havana syndrome ’ and the mystery of the microwaves" Gordon Corera 8 September 2021 ''BBC News'' https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58396698</ref> 40 in 2019 (U.S. and Canadian),<ref name="cbc1">"Havana syndrome: Exposure to neurotoxin may have been cause, study suggests" Havana syndrome: Exposure to neurotoxin may have been cause, study suggests September 19, 2019 ''Candian Broadcast Corportation'' | |||
In an interview with ], '']''{{'}}s Natalie Shure said it was a "red flag" as to its credibility that "this story was being almost exclusively pushed by national security reporters and not by people who report on health topics".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Michael |title=The danger of pushing the foreign attack theory for 'Havana Syndrome' |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/23/1075216807/the-danger-of-pushing-the-foreign-attack-theory-for-havana-syndrome |access-date=April 15, 2022 |publisher=] |date=January 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415162533/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/23/1075216807/the-danger-of-pushing-the-foreign-attack-theory-for-havana-syndrome |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/havana-syndrome-neurotoxin-enqu%C3%AAte-1.5288609</ref> 130 people in May 2021,<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/> more than 200 by September 2021,<ref name="Myre 2021-11-21"/> and more than 1,000 by early 2022.<ref name="ps1"/> The cases affected CIA, U.S. military, and State Department personnel and their family members.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/> Some reports, after investigation, were determined to have ordinary explanations, and thus unrelated to Havana Syndrome.<ref name=Corera/> | |||
In July 2024, a report from the ] stated that 334 persons had completed the process to qualify for care in the military health system, but that number does not include persons that did not apply for such treatment.<ref name="sns">"New report reveals Havana Syndrome case numbers. More than 300 Americans treated" Nora Gámez Torres July 31, 2024 ''Stars and Stripes'' https://www.stripes.com/theaters/americas/2024-07-31/havana-syndrome-300-americans-treated-14684535.html</ref> | |||
Psychologist ] reported that media coverage of the JAMA studies reinforced the idea that embassy workers had suffered brain damage, and that if the mass psychogenic illness interpretation of Havana syndrome is correct, this may create obstacles to recovery because "people who think they have suffered brain injury are likely to assume they will be permanently affected and to attribute any symptoms they experience to their damaged brains. In contrast, acceptance of the psychogenic interpretation could facilitate recovery."<ref name="Vyse">{{cite web |last1=Vyse |first1=Stuart |author1-link=Stuart Vyse |title=Mass Psychogenic Illness: The Unacceptable Diagnosis |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/mass-psychogenic-illness-the-unacceptable-diagnosis/ |website=skepticalinquirer.org |publisher=CFI |access-date=21 August 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230821035255/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/mass-psychogenic-illness-the-unacceptable-diagnosis/ |archive-date=21 August 2023 |date=16 February 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Locations== | |||
===Attacks by hostile foreign powers=== | |||
People have reported experiencing AHIs in about a dozen countries, and in a variety of circumstances, including in hotels, at home, in embassies, and while in vehicles.<ref name="cbs4">"Havana Syndrome: High-level national security officials stricken with unexplained illness on White House grounds" Scott Pelley ''CBS News'' https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-white-house-cabinet-60-minutes-2022-06-26/</ref><ref name="Entous 2018-11-19"/> | |||
In 2018 and 2019, following the first reports of Havana syndrome, the U.S. government postulated that the cause was hostile adversaries attacking their embassy staff, as well as Canadian embassy staff, with sonic weaponry.<ref name=Golomb2018/> Later, some scientists disputed that sound waves could cause some of the symptoms being reported, and investigators speculated the recordings may have been of malfunctioning Cuban surveillance equipment.<ref name=FuReport/> When it was determined that the recorded sounds of supposed attacks were the mating calls of a variety of indigenous crickets, a call was made for "more rigorous research into the source of the reported symptoms."<ref name="JASON2"/> Subsequent studies speculated that directed electromagnetic weapons (using microwaves or radio waves) were the cause.<ref name=Golomb2018/> In 2021, James Lin of the ] claimed that "many researchers and government people have come to believe that the microwave auditory effect — induced by a targeted beam of high peak-power pulsed microwave radiation—may be the most likely scientific explanation for the Havana Syndrome".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lin |first=James C. |date=November 2021 |title=The Havana Syndrome and Microwave Weapons |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9557212/ |journal=IEEE Microwave Magazine |volume=22 |issue=11 |pages=13–14 |doi=10.1109/MMM.2021.3102201 |issn=1527-3342}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lin |first=James C. |date=2022 |title=Microwave Auditory Effects Among U.S. Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9759429/ |journal=IEEE Access |volume=10 |pages=44577–44582 |doi=10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3168656 |issn=2169-3536}}</ref> However, studies published in 2023 and 2024 did not find any evidence of hostile attacks and cast doubt on the idea that electromagnetic energy could produce symptoms consistent with symptoms of Havana syndrome.<ref name=GuardianFeb2023/><ref name=CDC/><ref name=":2" /><ref name="PierPal">Pierpaoli C., Nayak A., Hafiz R., et al. . JAMA. Published online March 18, 2024. {{doi|10.1001/jama.2024.2424}}.</ref><ref name="jama1">{{Cite journal |last1=Chan |first1=Leighton |last2=Hallett |first2=Mark |last3=Zalewski |first3=Chris K. |last4=Brewer |first4=Carmen C. |last5=Zampieri |first5=Cris |last6=Hoa |first6=Michael |last7=Lippa |first7=Sara M. |last8=Fitzgibbon |first8=Edmond |last9=French |first9=Louis M. |last10=Moses |first10=Anita D. |last11=van der Merwe |first11=André J. |last12=Pierpaoli |first12=Carlo |last13=Turtzo |first13=L. Christine |last14=Yonter |first14=Simge |last15=Shahim |first15=Pashtun |date=2024-03-18 |title=Clinical, Biomarker, and Research Tests Among US Government Personnel and Their Family Members Involved in Anomalous Health Incidents |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816533 |journal=JAMA |language=en |doi=10.1001/jama.2024.2413 |pmid=38497797 |pmc=10949151 |pmc-embargo-date=September 18, 2024 |issn=0098-7484}}</ref><ref name=Barnes/><ref name="CNN3"/> | |||
In March 2024, a joint investigation by '']'', '']'' and '']'' claimed that the Russians had perpetrated the attacks through state agency ] using ].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Pelley |first=Scott |date=2024-03-31 |title=Havana Syndrome mystery continues as a lead military investigator says bar for proof was set impossibly high - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-culprit-investigation-new-evidence-60-minutes-transcript/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref name="Dobrokhotov">{{Cite web |first1=Roman |last1=Dobrokhotov |first2=Christo |last2=Grozev |first3=Michael |last3=Weiss |date=31 March 2024 |title=Unraveling Havana Syndrome: New evidence links the GRU's assassination Unit 29155 to mysterious attacks on U.S. officials and their families |url=https://theins.ru/en/politics/270425 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SpiegelMarch2024">{{Cite web|first1=Cornelius |last1=Dieckmann |first2=Roman |last2=Dobrokhotov |first3=Christo |last3=Grozev |first4=Steffen |last4=Lüdke |first5=Alina |last5=Schadwinkel |first6=Fidelius |last6=Schmid |date=31 March 2024 |title=Did Russian agents use microwave weapons against US diplomats |url=https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/havanna-syndrom-setzten-russische-agenten-mikrowellenwaffen-gegen-us-diplomaten-ein-a-1d5d1c2e-ed83-44c8-a446-45bb50f712d5 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=] |language=de}}</ref> | |||
==Locations associated with Havana syndrome claims== | |||
===Cuba=== | ===Cuba=== | ||
In August 2017, reports began surfacing that American and Canadian<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/14/mystery-of-sonic-weapon-attacks-at-us-embassy-in-cuba-deepens|title=Mystery of sonic weapon attacks at US embassy in Cuba deepens|work=]|date=September 14, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126115844/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/14/mystery-of-sonic-weapon-attacks-at-us-embassy-in-cuba-deepens|url-status=live}}</ref> diplomatic personnel in Cuba had experienced unusual, unexplained health problems dating to late 2016.<ref name="Neuman">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/09/542513962/cuban-diplomats-expelled-after-u-s-embassy-staff-incidents-in-havana|title=Cuban Diplomats Expelled After US Embassy Staff 'Incidents' In Havana|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2017 |publisher=NPR|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004000028/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/09/542513962/cuban-diplomats-expelled-after-u-s-embassy-staff-incidents-in-havana|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuba-embassy-attacks-baffle-u-s-frustrate-victim-n802326|title=Victim of Cuba embassy 'attacks' frustrated by response|last1=Connor|first1=Tracy|last2=Murray|first2=Mary|date=September 17, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=October 1, 2017|last3=Williams|first3=Abigail|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928084111/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuba-embassy-attacks-baffle-u-s-frustrate-victim-n802326|url-status=live}}</ref> As of June 2018, the number of American citizens experiencing symptoms was 26.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. says another American suffers illness at its Cuba embassy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-diplomats/us-says-26-americans-at-cuba-embassy-had-health-problems-after-another-case-confirmed-idUSKBN1JO2P2 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |work=Reuters |date=June 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703024846/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-diplomats/us-says-26-americans-at-cuba-embassy-had-health-problems-after-another-case-confirmed-idUSKBN1JO2P2 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
] in ]]] | |||
In August 2017, reports began surfacing that American and Canadian<ref name="Mystery">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/14/mystery-of-sonic-weapon-attacks-at-us-embassy-in-cuba-deepens|title=Mystery of sonic weapon attacks at US embassy in Cuba deepens|work=]|date=September 14, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126115844/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/14/mystery-of-sonic-weapon-attacks-at-us-embassy-in-cuba-deepens|url-status=live}}</ref> diplomatic personnel in Cuba had experienced unusual, unexplained health problems dating to late 2016.<ref name="NPRaug2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/09/542513962/cuban-diplomats-expelled-after-u-s-embassy-staff-incidents-in-havana|title=Cuban Diplomats Expelled After US Embassy Staff 'Incidents' In Havana|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2017 |publisher=NPR|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004000028/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/09/542513962/cuban-diplomats-expelled-after-u-s-embassy-staff-incidents-in-havana|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nbcnews.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuba-embassy-attacks-baffle-u-s-frustrate-victim-n802326|title=Victim of Cuba embassy 'attacks' frustrated by response|last1=Connor|first1=Tracy|last2=Murray|first2=Mary|date=September 17, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=October 1, 2017|last3=Williams|first3=Abigail|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928084111/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuba-embassy-attacks-baffle-u-s-frustrate-victim-n802326|url-status=live}}</ref> As of June 2018, the number of American citizens experiencing symptoms was 26.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. says another American suffers illness at its Cuba embassy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-diplomats/us-says-26-americans-at-cuba-embassy-had-health-problems-after-another-case-confirmed-idUSKBN1JO2P2 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |work=Reuters |date=June 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703024846/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-diplomats/us-says-26-americans-at-cuba-embassy-had-health-problems-after-another-case-confirmed-idUSKBN1JO2P2 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====Events==== | ====Events==== | ||
The original 21 events in Cuba were characterized as starting with strange grating noises coming from a specific direction. Some people experienced pressure, vibration, or a sensation comparable to driving a car with the window partly rolled down. These noises lasted from 20 seconds to 30 minutes and happened while the diplomats were either at home or in hotel rooms. Other people nearby (including family members and guests in neighboring rooms) did not experience the same symptoms.<ref |
The original 21 events in Cuba were characterized as starting with strange grating noises coming from a specific direction. Some people experienced pressure, vibration, or a sensation comparable to driving a car with the window partly rolled down. These noises lasted from 20 seconds to 30 minutes and happened while the diplomats were either at home or in hotel rooms. Other people nearby (including family members and guests in neighboring rooms) did not experience the same symptoms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hurley |first1=Dan |title=The Mystery Behind Neurological Symptoms Among US Diplomats in Cuba: Lots of Questions, Few Answers |journal=Neurology Today |date=March 22, 2018 |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=1, 24–26 |doi=10.1097/01.NT.0000532085.86007.9b|s2cid=80371791 }}</ref> | ||
====Impact on American diplomats==== | ====Impact on American diplomats==== | ||
Some U.S. embassy workers have experienced lasting health problems, including an unidentified diplomat who now needs a hearing aid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/13/politics/cuba-us-diplomats-acoustic-weapons/index.html|title=New audio adds to mystery of Cuba attacks|author=Zachary Cohen|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014013759/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/13/politics/cuba-us-diplomats-acoustic-weapons/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, the U.S. State Department concluded that the health problems were either the result of an attack or due to exposure to an unknown device,<ref name=" |
Some U.S. embassy workers have experienced lasting health problems, including an unidentified diplomat who now needs a hearing aid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/13/politics/cuba-us-diplomats-acoustic-weapons/index.html|title=New audio adds to mystery of Cuba attacks|author=Zachary Cohen|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014013759/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/13/politics/cuba-us-diplomats-acoustic-weapons/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, the U.S. State Department concluded that the health problems were either the result of an attack or due to exposure to an unknown device,<ref name="Doubek">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/25/545993212/at-least-16-u-s-embassy-staff-in-cuba-treated-after-health-attacks|title=At Least 16 U.S. Embassy Staff In Cuba Treated After 'Health Attacks'|last=Doubek|first=James|publisher=NPR|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2018|archive-date=December 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221175245/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/25/545993212/at-least-16-u-s-embassy-staff-in-cuba-treated-after-health-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> but that it was not blaming the Cuban government, and would not say who was to blame.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018162045/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article175493626.html |date=October 18, 2017}}. ], September 26, 2017.</ref> Affected people described symptoms such as hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.<ref name="Doubek"/> Speculation centered around a ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/10/health/acoustic-weapons-explainer/index.html|title=Using sound to attack: The diverse world of acoustic devices|last=Chavez|first=Nicole|date=August 10, 2017|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926145355/https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/10/health/acoustic-weapons-explainer/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with some researchers pointing to ] as a possible cause.<ref>{{cite web|author=Catherine McIntyre|url=https://www.macleans.ca/news/how-canadian-diplomats-in-cuba-are-being-acoustically-attacked/|title=How Canadian diplomats in Cuba are being acoustically attacked|work=Maclean's|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812095608/https://www.macleans.ca/news/how-canadian-diplomats-in-cuba-are-being-acoustically-attacked/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In August 2017, the United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in retaliation for perceived Cuban responsibility.<ref name=" |
In August 2017, the United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in retaliation for perceived Cuban responsibility.<ref name="Neuman"/> The next month, the U.S. State Department stated that it was removing non-essential staff from the U.S. embassy and warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Cuba.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-stops-issuing-visas-in-cuba-cuts-embassy-staff-urges-no-travel-to-island|title=US stops issuing visas in Cuba, cuts embassy staff, urges no travel to island|author=Rich Edson|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2017 |publisher=Fox News|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929232501/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/29/us-stops-issuing-visas-in-cuba-cuts-embassy-staff-urges-no-travel-to-island.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2017, President ] said he believed that Cuba was responsible for the occurrences,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/16/politics/trump-cuba-us-diplomats-attack/index.html|title=Trump blames Cuba for mysterious attacks on US diplomats|author=Zachary Cohen|date=October 16, 2017 |publisher=CNN|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126071002/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/16/politics/trump-cuba-us-diplomats-attack/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> calling them a "very unusual attack".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/trump-says-cuba-responsible-for-alleged-sonic-attacks-but-offers-no-evidence|title=Trump says Cuba 'responsible' for alleged sonic attacks, but offers no evidence|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=December 7, 2017|work=The Guardian|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016201622/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/trump-says-cuba-responsible-for-alleged-sonic-attacks-but-offers-no-evidence|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In response to the incidents, the U.S. State Department announced in March 2018 that 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 2017, but the status was set to expire. This announcement served to extend the staff reductions indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Koran|first1=Laura|last2=Oppmann|first2=Patrick|title=US Embassy in Cuba to reduce staff indefinitely after 'health attacks'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/02/politics/us-embassy-cuba-staff-reductions-attacks/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 22, 2018|date=March 2, 2018|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422141006/https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/02/politics/us-embassy-cuba-staff-reductions-attacks/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | In response to the incidents, the U.S. State Department announced in March 2018 that 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 2017, but the status was set to expire. This announcement served to extend the staff reductions indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Koran|first1=Laura|last2=Oppmann|first2=Patrick|title=US Embassy in Cuba to reduce staff indefinitely after 'health attacks'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/02/politics/us-embassy-cuba-staff-reductions-attacks/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 22, 2018|date=March 2, 2018|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422141006/https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/02/politics/us-embassy-cuba-staff-reductions-attacks/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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After the incident was made public, the Cuban foreign minister accused the U.S. of lying about the incident and denied Cuban involvement in or knowledge of the cause of the health problems the diplomats experienced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/d5fbd467d6f04d37bb1c264affa3b973|title=Cuba official accuses US of lying about sonic attacks|work=Associated Press News|date=November 3, 2017|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203152940/https://apnews.com/d5fbd467d6f04d37bb1c264affa3b973|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/cuba-minister-sonic-attacks/index.html|title=Cuban Minister rejects US sonic attack claims|publisher=CNN|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120415/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/cuba-minister-sonic-attacks/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | After the incident was made public, the Cuban foreign minister accused the U.S. of lying about the incident and denied Cuban involvement in or knowledge of the cause of the health problems the diplomats experienced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/d5fbd467d6f04d37bb1c264affa3b973|title=Cuba official accuses US of lying about sonic attacks|work=Associated Press News|date=November 3, 2017|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203152940/https://apnews.com/d5fbd467d6f04d37bb1c264affa3b973|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/cuba-minister-sonic-attacks/index.html|title=Cuban Minister rejects US sonic attack claims|publisher=CNN|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120415/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/cuba-minister-sonic-attacks/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
The Cuban government offered to cooperate with the U.S. in an investigation of the incidents.<ref |
The Cuban government offered to cooperate with the U.S. in an investigation of the incidents.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba|url=http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/statement-ministry-foreign-affairs-cuba-1|website=Minrex.gob.cu|publisher=Minrex|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180407014754/http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/statement-ministry-foreign-affairs-cuba-1|archive-date=April 7, 2018|date=August 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It employed about 2,000 scientists and law enforcement officers who interviewed 300 neighbors of diplomats, examined two hotels, and medically examined non-diplomats who could have been exposed. ] reported that Cuban officials stated that they analyzed air and soil samples and considered a range of ]. They also examined the possibility that ] were to blame, and even looked into whether ] could be the culprit, but found nothing they could link to the claimed medical symptoms. The FBI and Cuban authorities met to discuss the situation; the Cubans stated that the U.S. neither agreed to share the diplomats' medical records with Cuban authorities nor allowed Cuban investigators access to U.S. diplomats' homes to conduct tests.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mitchell|first1=Andrea|last2=Murray|first2=Mary|title=Cubans Forcefully Reject Blame for U.S. Diplomats' Mystery Ailments|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cubans-forcefully-reject-blame-u-s-diplomats-mystery-ailments-n813581|publisher=NBC News|date=October 24, 2017|access-date=December 26, 2017|archive-date=December 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225210741/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cubans-forcefully-reject-blame-u-s-diplomats-mystery-ailments-n813581|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In 2021, a panel of scientists affiliated with the ] and convened by the Cuban government reported that "the narrative of the 'mysterious syndrome' is not scientifically acceptable in any of its components." The panel addressed the microwave hypothesis directly, writing, "No known form of energy can selectively cause brain damage (with laser-like spatial accuracy) under the conditions described for the alleged incidents in Havana."<ref name="Cuban scientists">{{Cite web|title=Cuban scientists say no evidence of attacks on diplomats | |||
|url=https://apnews.com/article/science-cuba-havana-physics-4316989d278ae353c42ef78033d9b2a5 | |||
|publisher=Associated Press | |||
|first1=Andrea | |||
|last1=Rodríguez | |||
|date= September 13, 2021 }}</ref> | |||
After release of the March 2023 U.S. intelligence agencies' report which concluded that "available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely", Cuba's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters, "The unfortunate thing is the U.S. government leveraged to derail bilateral relations ... and discredit Cuba." The Reuters article reported that "Cuba has for years labeled as 'science fiction' the idea that 'Havana Syndrome' resulted from an attack by a foreign agent, and its top scientists in 2021 found no evidence of such allegations."<ref name=Sherwood/> | |||
===Beyond Cuba=== | ===Beyond Cuba=== | ||
Beginning in late 2017, suspected attacks targeting U.S. intelligence personnel were reported in an expanding set of locations around the world,<ref name=Strobel>{{Cite news|last=Strobel|first=Warren P.|date=September 28, 2021|title=Havana Syndrome Attacks Widen With CIA Officer's Evacuation From Serbia|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/havana-syndrome-attacks-widen-as-cia-officer-is-evacuated-from-serbia-11632844044|access-date=September 28, 2021|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809052241/https://www.wsj.com/articles/havana-syndrome-attacks-widen-as-cia-officer-is-evacuated-from-serbia-11632844044|url-status=live}}</ref> including ]; ]; ]; ]; and ].<ref name=Ioffe>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gq.com/story/cia-investigation-and-russian-microwave-attacks|title=The Mystery of the Immaculate Concussion|last=Ioffe|first=Julia|magazine=GQ|date=October 19, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529214558/https://www.gq.com/story/cia-investigation-and-russian-microwave-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Other reports came from ], ], ], and ],<ref name=Entous/> among other countries.<ref name=Entous/><ref name= |
Beginning in late 2017, suspected attacks targeting U.S. intelligence personnel were reported in an expanding set of locations around the world,<ref name=Strobel>{{Cite news|last=Strobel|first=Warren P.|date=September 28, 2021|title=Havana Syndrome Attacks Widen With CIA Officer's Evacuation From Serbia|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/havana-syndrome-attacks-widen-as-cia-officer-is-evacuated-from-serbia-11632844044|access-date=September 28, 2021|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809052241/https://www.wsj.com/articles/havana-syndrome-attacks-widen-as-cia-officer-is-evacuated-from-serbia-11632844044|url-status=live}}</ref> including ]; ]; ]; ]; and ].<ref name=Ioffe>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gq.com/story/cia-investigation-and-russian-microwave-attacks|title=The Mystery of the Immaculate Concussion|last=Ioffe|first=Julia|magazine=GQ|date=October 19, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529214558/https://www.gq.com/story/cia-investigation-and-russian-microwave-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Other reports came from ], ], ], and ],<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31">{{Cite web|first=Adam|last=Entous|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|title=Are U.S. Officials Under Silent Attack?|newspaper=]|date=May 31, 2021|quote=Top officials in both the Trump and the Biden Administrations privately suspect that Russia is responsible for the Havana Syndrome. Their working hypothesis is that agents of the G.R.U., the Russian military's intelligence service, have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials to collect intelligence from their computers and cell phones, and that these devices can cause serious harm to the people they target.|access-date=June 4, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601232849/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|url-status=live}}</ref> among other countries.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/><ref name="Entous 2018-11-19">{{cite news |last1=Entous |first1=Adam |last2=Anderson |first2=Jon Lee |date=November 19, 2018 |title=The Mystery of the Havana Syndrome: Unexplained brain injuries afflicted dozens of American diplomats and spies. What happened? |magazine=] |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/19/the-mystery-of-the-havana-syndrome |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127150743/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/19/the-mystery-of-the-havana-syndrome |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Payne |first=Elizabeth |date=November 30, 2018 |title=Ottawa doctor treating Canadian diplomats with mysterious 'Havana syndrome' |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-doctor-treating-canadian-diplomats-with-mysterious-havana-syndrome |work=] |quote=It is being called Havana syndrome and officials in Canada and the United States, where more than 20 diplomats have been affected, are trying to identify the cause of the injuries. |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204204715/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-doctor-treating-canadian-diplomats-with-mysterious-havana-syndrome |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bo Williams">Katie Bo Williams & Jeremy Herb, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429175852/https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/politics/us-investigating-mysterious-directed-energy-attack-white-house/index.html |date=April 29, 2021}}, CNN (April 29, 2021).</ref><ref name="Entous 2021-07-16" /><ref>Hruby, Denise and Hansler, Jennifer. (July 19, 2021). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731214157/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/18/europe/austria-us-havana-syndrome-intl/index.html |date=July 31, 2021 }} CNN. Retrieved July 31, 2021.</ref><ref name="Atwood 2021-09-20">{{cite news |last=Atwood |first=Kylie |date=September 20, 2021 |title=Member of CIA chief's team reported Havana syndrome symptoms on recent trip to India |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/20/politics/cia-director-havana-syndrome-india-trip/index.html |publisher=] |access-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920235606/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/20/politics/cia-director-havana-syndrome-india-trip/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
The U.S. government has not released the number of affected persons, but media reporting indicated a total of 130 possible cases by the end of May 2021,<ref name=Entous/> rising to more than 200 by mid-September 2021.<ref name=Myre/> The cases variously affected CIA, U.S. military, and State Department personnel and their family members.<ref name=Entous/> Some reports, after investigation, were determined to be possibly related to Havana syndrome, while others were determined to be unrelated; ] reported in 2021 that "One former official reckons around half the cases reported by US officials are possibly linked to attacks by an adversary."<ref name=Corera/> | |||
====China==== | ====China==== | ||
] of the United States in ]]] | ] of the United States in ]]] | ||
Starting in early 2018, U.S. diplomats in China began reporting symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome. The first such incident was reported by an American diplomat in China in April 2018 at the ], the largest U.S. consulate in China. The employee reported that he had been experiencing symptoms since late 2017. Several individuals were taken to the U.S. for medical examination.<ref |
Starting in early 2018, U.S. diplomats in China began reporting symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome. The first such incident was reported by an American diplomat in China in April 2018 at the ], the largest U.S. consulate in China. The employee reported that he had been experiencing symptoms since late 2017. Several individuals were taken to the U.S. for medical examination.<ref>{{cite news |title=China Pledges to Investigate Fears of Sonic Attacks on U.S. Diplomats |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/world/asia/sonic-attack-china-guangzhou-consulate-.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 7, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612215601/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/world/asia/sonic-attack-china-guangzhou-consulate-.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Myers">{{cite news |first1=Steven Lee |last1=Myers |first2=Jane |last2=Perlez |title=U.S. Diplomats Evacuated in China as Medical Mystery Grows |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/06/world/asia/china-guangzhou-consulate-sonic-attack.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 6, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2018 |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118124553/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/06/world/asia/china-guangzhou-consulate-sonic-attack.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=US diplomats evacuated from China amid 'sonic attack' concerns |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/us-diplomats-evacuated-from-china-amid-sonic-attack-concerns/ |work=CNET |date=June 6, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612233018/https://www.cnet.com/news/us-diplomats-evacuated-from-china-amid-sonic-attack-concerns/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A ] employee at the U.S. embassy in ], reported a different incident in September 2017; the employee's report was discounted by the U.S. State Department.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uzbekistan-incident-raises-suspicions-of-russian-involvement-in-cuba-attacks/|title=Uzbekistan incident raises suspicions of Russian involvement in Cuba attacks|last=Dorsey|first=Steve|date=November 28, 2017 |work=CBS News|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142045/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uzbekistan-incident-raises-suspicions-of-russian-involvement-in-cuba-attacks/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Answering questions from the ] in May 2018, Secretary of State ] testified that U.S. diplomatic staff in Guangzhou had reported symptoms "very similar" to, and "entirely consistent" with, those reported from Cuba.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gardiner |last=Harris |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/asia/pompeo-diplomats-china-cuba.html |title=Pompeo Says Mysterious Sickness Among Diplomats in Cuba Has Spread to China |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606050541/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/asia/pompeo-diplomats-china-cuba.html |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Steven|last1=Jiang|first2=Ben|last2=Westcott|first3=Maegan|last3=Vazquez|title=Pompeo says China incident 'entirely consistent' with Cuba 'sonic attacks'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/asia/us-employee-china-sound-injury-intl/index.html|work=CNN|date=March 23, 2018|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106011207/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/asia/us-employee-china-sound-injury-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 6, 2018, '']'' reported that at least two additional U.S. diplomats stationed at the Guangzhou consulate had been evacuated from China and reported that "it remains unclear whether the illnesses are the result of attacks at all. Other theories have included toxins, listening devices that accidentally emitted harmful sounds, or even mass hysteria."<ref name= |
Answering questions from the ] in May 2018, Secretary of State ] testified that U.S. diplomatic staff in Guangzhou had reported symptoms "very similar" to, and "entirely consistent" with, those reported from Cuba.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gardiner |last=Harris |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/asia/pompeo-diplomats-china-cuba.html |title=Pompeo Says Mysterious Sickness Among Diplomats in Cuba Has Spread to China |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606050541/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/asia/pompeo-diplomats-china-cuba.html |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Steven|last1=Jiang|first2=Ben|last2=Westcott|first3=Maegan|last3=Vazquez|title=Pompeo says China incident 'entirely consistent' with Cuba 'sonic attacks'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/asia/us-employee-china-sound-injury-intl/index.html|work=CNN|date=March 23, 2018|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106011207/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/asia/us-employee-china-sound-injury-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 6, 2018, '']'' reported that at least two additional U.S. diplomats stationed at the Guangzhou consulate had been evacuated from China and reported that "it remains unclear whether the illnesses are the result of attacks at all. Other theories have included toxins, listening devices that accidentally emitted harmful sounds, or even mass hysteria."<ref name="Myers"/> In June 2018, the State Department announced that a task force had been assembled to investigate the reports<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuo |first1=Lily |title='Sonic attack' fears as more US diplomats fall ill in China |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/07/sonic-attack-fears-as-more-us-diplomats-fall-ill-in-china |work=The Guardian |date=June 7, 2018 |access-date=June 8, 2018 |archive-date=September 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912082220/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/07/sonic-attack-fears-as-more-us-diplomats-fall-ill-in-china |url-status=live}}</ref> and expanded their health warning to all of mainland China amid reports some US diplomats outside of Guangzhou had experienced the same symptoms resembling a brain injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. expands China health alert amid illness reports |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-illness/u-s-expands-china-health-alert-amid-illness-reports-idUSKCN1J408E |date=June 7, 2018 |work=Reuters |access-date=June 8, 2018 |archive-date=June 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608031449/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-illness/u-s-expands-china-health-alert-amid-illness-reports-idUSKCN1J408E |url-status=live}}</ref> The warning told anyone who experienced "unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena accompanied by unusual sounds or piercing noises" to "not attempt to locate their source".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/06/08/controversy-surrounds-research-on-state-department-employees-sickened-in-attacks|title=Controversy surrounds research on State Department employees sickened in 'attacks'|last1=Achenbach|first1=Joel|newspaper=]|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2018|author1-link=Joel Achenbach|archive-date=June 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610140845/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/06/08/controversy-surrounds-research-on-state-department-employees-sickened-in-attacks/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
====Elsewhere in Asia==== | ====Elsewhere in Asia==== | ||
In August 2021, it was reported that two American diplomats were evacuated from the ] in ], after incidents of Havana syndrome were reported.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/two-u-s-diplomats-be-evacuated-vietnam-after-havana-syndrome-n1277539|title=Two U.S. diplomats to be evacuated from Vietnam after "Havana Syndrome" incidents|publisher=NBC News|date=August 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824171159/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/two-u-s-diplomats-be-evacuated-vietnam-after-havana-syndrome-n1277539|url-status=live}}</ref> These reported cases also delayed ] ]'s visit to Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/politics/kamala-harris-vietnam/index.html|title=Possible Havana syndrome incident delayed Harris flight to Vietnam|first1=Jasmine|last1=Wright|first2=Kevin|last2=Liptak|first3=Jeremy|last3=Diamond|first4=Kate|last4=Sullivan|publisher=CNN|date=August 24, 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824144401/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/politics/kamala-harris-vietnam/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref |
In August 2021, it was reported that two American diplomats were evacuated from the ] in ], after incidents of Havana syndrome were reported.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/two-u-s-diplomats-be-evacuated-vietnam-after-havana-syndrome-n1277539|title=Two U.S. diplomats to be evacuated from Vietnam after "Havana Syndrome" incidents|publisher=NBC News|date=August 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824171159/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/two-u-s-diplomats-be-evacuated-vietnam-after-havana-syndrome-n1277539|url-status=live}}</ref> These reported cases also delayed ] ]'s visit to Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/politics/kamala-harris-vietnam/index.html|title=Possible Havana syndrome incident delayed Harris flight to Vietnam|first1=Jasmine|last1=Wright|first2=Kevin|last2=Liptak|first3=Jeremy|last3=Diamond|first4=Kate|last4=Sullivan|publisher=CNN|date=August 24, 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824144401/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/politics/kamala-harris-vietnam/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=KAYALI |first1=Laura |title=Havana Syndrome linked to Russian military agency GRU, investigation indicates |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/havana-syndrome-link-russia-military-intelligence-agency-gru-report/ |work=Politico |date=1 April 2024}}</ref> | ||
In September 2021, an ] of ] director ] reported symptoms consistent with those of Havana syndrome on a diplomatic visit to ].<ref name= |
In September 2021, an ] of ] director ] reported symptoms consistent with those of Havana syndrome on a diplomatic visit to ].<ref name="Atwood 2021-09-20"/> | ||
====Washington, D.C. |
====Washington, D.C. area==== | ||
In 2019, a White House official reported experiencing debilitating symptoms while walking her dog in a ]; the incident was publicly reported in 2020.<ref name= |
In 2019, a White House official reported experiencing debilitating symptoms while walking her dog in a ]; the incident was publicly reported in 2020.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> In November 2020, a similar incident was reported on ], a lawn adjacent to the south side of the White House.<ref name="Bo Williams"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Beitsch|first=Rebecca|date=April 29, 2021|title=US investigating possible 'Havana syndrome' attack near White House: CNN|url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/550898-us-investigating-possible-havana-syndrome-attack-near-white-house|access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=The Hill|language=en|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429163402/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/550898-us-investigating-possible-havana-syndrome-attack-near-white-house|url-status=live}}</ref> Both incidents were similar to those that were reported to have struck dozens of U.S. personnel overseas, including CIA and State Department personnel.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> Federal agencies investigated the incident at The Ellipse, and Defense Department officials briefed members of the ] and ] in April 2021.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> Investigators told members of Congress that they had not been able to determine the cause of the events or who was responsible.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> | ||
====Europe==== | ====Europe==== | ||
] in ]]] | ] in ]]] | ||
In 2021, dozens of U.S. personnel stationed in ], including diplomats, intelligence officials, and some children of U.S. employees, had Havana syndrome-like symptoms.<ref name= |
In 2021, dozens of U.S. personnel stationed in ], including diplomats, intelligence officials, and some children of U.S. employees, had Havana syndrome-like symptoms.<ref name="Hudson">John Hudson & Shane Harris, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927054207/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/cia-havana-syndrome-vienna/2021/09/23/cbc3bbbc-1c7f-11ec-914a-99d701398e5a_story.html |date=September 27, 2021 }}, ''Washington Post'' (September 23, 2021).</ref> | ||
The ] confirmed in July 2021 that it was investigating the reports.<ref name=" |
The ] confirmed in July 2021 that it was investigating the reports.<ref name="Entous 2021-07-16">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/vienna-is-the-new-havana-syndrome-hotspot |title=Vienna Is the New Havana Syndrome Hot Spot |last=Entous |first=Adam |date=July 16, 2021 |magazine=] |access-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902111937/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/vienna-is-the-new-havana-syndrome-hotspot |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] stated it was collaborating with American investigators. Aside from Havana, Vienna has reported the most incidents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57875322 |title='Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats |work=BBC News |date=July 17, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717161044/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57875322 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2021, the CIA ] in Vienna (the top U.S. intelligence officer in the country) was recalled over concerns over his management; he had been criticized for not taking quicker action in response to the Havana syndrome cases at his post.<ref name="Myre 2021-11-20">Greg Myre, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120144510/https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040422112/cia-recalls-vienna-station-chief-in-move-related-to-handling-of-havana-syndrome |date=November 20, 2021 }}, NPR (September 24, 2021).</ref><ref name="Hudson"/> | ||
In the months preceding August 2021, cases of Havana syndrome were reported at the ], Germany, including from two U.S. officials who sought medical treatment.<ref |
In the months preceding August 2021, cases of Havana syndrome were reported at the ], Germany, including from two U.S. officials who sought medical treatment.<ref>Bojan Pancevski, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818110612/https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-officials-in-germany-hit-by-havana-syndrome-11629279001 |date=August 18, 2021 }}, ''Wall Street Journal'' (August 18, 2021).</ref> Several new cases were reported at the embassy in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58852437|title = Havana syndrome: Berlin police probe cases at US embassy|work = BBC News|date = October 9, 2021|access-date = October 13, 2021|archive-date = October 11, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211011222133/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58852437|url-status = live}}</ref> | ||
In 2021, the CIA evacuated an intelligence officer serving in ] suspected of being a victim of the neurological attack.<ref name=Strobel/> | In 2021, the CIA evacuated an intelligence officer serving in ] suspected of being a victim of the neurological attack.<ref name=Strobel/> | ||
Three White House staffers reported symptoms at the ] in late May 2019.<ref name=Entous/> | Three White House staffers reported symptoms at the ] in late May 2019.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/> | ||
====Elsewhere==== | ====Elsewhere==== | ||
One of the CIA officials with symptoms in Australia and Taiwan was one of the agency's top five officials.<ref name=Ioffe/> The Russian embassy in Australia dismissed reports of Russian operatives targeting CIA personnel in Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/28/russia-issues-extraordinary-statement-over-reports-cia-agents-were-attacked-in-australia|title=Russia issues extraordinary statement over reports CIA agents were attacked in Australia|last=Bucci|first=Nino|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215205/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/28/russia-issues-extraordinary-statement-over-reports-cia-agents-were-attacked-in-australia|url-status=live}}</ref> | One of the CIA officials with symptoms in Australia and Taiwan was one of the agency's top five officials.<ref name=Ioffe/> The Russian embassy in Australia dismissed reports of Russian operatives targeting CIA personnel in Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/28/russia-issues-extraordinary-statement-over-reports-cia-agents-were-attacked-in-australia|title=Russia issues extraordinary statement over reports CIA agents were attacked in Australia|last=Bucci|first=Nino|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215205/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/28/russia-issues-extraordinary-statement-over-reports-cia-agents-were-attacked-in-australia|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In October 2021, it was reported that U.S. embassy personnel and their families in ], had developed symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58893344|title = Havana syndrome reported at US embassy in Colombia|work = BBC News|date = October 13, 2021|access-date = October 13, 2021|archive-date = October 13, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211013100601/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58893344|url-status = live}}</ref><ref |
In October 2021, it was reported that U.S. embassy personnel and their families in ], had developed symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58893344|title = Havana syndrome reported at US embassy in Colombia|work = BBC News|date = October 13, 2021|access-date = October 13, 2021|archive-date = October 13, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211013100601/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58893344|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The world this week, Oct 16th 2021 edition – Politics |url=https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2021/10/16/politics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818040111/https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2021/10/16/politics |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2021 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> | ||
==Chronology of |
==Chronology of investigation== | ||
{{original research|date=April 2024}} | |||
===2018=== | ===2018=== | ||
====Developments==== | |||
In January 2018, at ] ]'s direction, the State Department convened an accountability review board,<ref name=Reuters>{{cite web|title=Tillerson to order new probe of Havana embassy health 'attacks'|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-investigation/tillerson-to-order-new-probe-of-havana-embassy-health-attacks-idUSKBN1EY1W9|work=Reuters|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180407014407/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-investigation/tillerson-to-order-new-probe-of-havana-embassy-health-attacks-idUSKBN1EY1W9|archive-date=April 7, 2018|date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> which is "an internal State Department mechanism to review security incidents involving diplomatic personnel".<ref name="CNNReview"/> Retired ] ] was chosen to lead the board.<ref name="CNNReview">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/retired-libya-ambassador-cuba-attacks-review/index.html|title=Retired ambassador to Libya to lead Cuba attacks review|date=January 10, 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110171447/http://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/retired-libya-ambassador-cuba-attacks-review/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in January, the ] reported that a non-public FBI report found no evidence of an intentional sonic attack.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Josh |last1=Lederman |first2=Matthew |last2=Lee |url=https://apnews.com/37deffe6a9ad408abc5a1a0277056d90 |title=Tillerson tells AP Cuba still risky; FBI doubts sonic attack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723191956/https://apnews.com/37deffe6a9ad408abc5a1a0277056d90 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |work=Associated Press |date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> | |||
In January 2018, at ] ]'s direction, the State Department convened an accountability review board,<ref>{{cite web|title=Tillerson to order new probe of Havana embassy health 'attacks'|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-investigation/tillerson-to-order-new-probe-of-havana-embassy-health-attacks-idUSKBN1EY1W9|work=Reuters|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180407014407/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-investigation/tillerson-to-order-new-probe-of-havana-embassy-health-attacks-idUSKBN1EY1W9|archive-date=April 7, 2018|date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> which is "an internal State Department mechanism to review security incidents involving diplomatic personnel".<ref name="CNN 2018-01-10"/> Retired ] ] was chosen to lead the board.<ref name="CNN 2018-01-10">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/retired-libya-ambassador-cuba-attacks-review/index.html|title=Retired ambassador to Libya to lead Cuba attacks review|date=January 10, 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110171447/http://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/retired-libya-ambassador-cuba-attacks-review/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2018, Kevin Fu and a team of ] at the ] reported in a study that ]—specifically, ] from multiple inaudible ultrasonic signals—from malfunctioning or improperly placed Cuban surveillance equipment could have been the origin of the reported sounds.<ref |
In March 2018, Kevin Fu and a team of ] at the ] reported in a study that ]—specifically, ] from multiple inaudible ultrasonic signals—from malfunctioning or improperly placed Cuban surveillance equipment could have been the origin of the reported sounds.<ref>{{cite tech report|url=https://spqr.eecs.umich.edu/papers/YanFuXu-Cuba-CSE-TR-001-18.pdf|title=On Cuba, Diplomats, Ultrasound, and Intermodulation Distortion|publisher=University of Michigan |id=Tech Report CSE-TR-001-18|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531214559/https://spqr.eecs.umich.edu/papers/YanFuXu-Cuba-CSE-TR-001-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Torres|first1=Nora Gámez|title=Computer scientists may have solved the mystery behind the 'sonic attacks' in Cuba|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article203221919.html|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422142443/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article203221919.html|archive-date=April 22, 2018|date=March 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McKay|first1=Tom|title=Study: Malfunctioning Surveillance Gear, Not Sonic Weapons, Could Explain Cuba Embassy 'Attack'|url=https://gizmodo.com/study-malfunctioning-surveillance-gear-not-sonic-weap-1823488256|website=Gizmodo.com|publisher=Gizmodo|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422142851/https://gizmodo.com/study-malfunctioning-surveillance-gear-not-sonic-weap-1823488256|archive-date=April 22, 2018|date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
==== FBI investigations==== | |||
A 2018 State Department report was declassified, and posted on the ]'s ], after ] litigation brought by the ]. The documents indicate that the State Department botched the handling of the initial reports. ] of the National Security Archive noted that the 2018 report concluded that the department's "initial investigation assessment of what was going on" was marred by chaos, disorganization, and excessive secrecy.<ref name="NYT19Oct2020"/> | |||
In 2018, the ] produced two reports on AHIs. The first, internally released in January, was a non-public report by the FBI's ] which found no evidence of a sonic attack or involvement of foreign adversaries.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Josh |last1=Lederman |first2=Matthew |last2=Lee |url=https://apnews.com/37deffe6a9ad408abc5a1a0277056d90 |title=Tillerson tells AP Cuba still risky; FBI doubts sonic attack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723191956/https://apnews.com/37deffe6a9ad408abc5a1a0277056d90 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |work=Associated Press |date=January 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Out6"/> | |||
A second FBI investigation in 2018 was conducted by the ], which visited Havana and came to the assessment that the individuals were experiencing a mass psychogenic illness. The investigators did not speak to any of the affected people directly, instead relying on prior interviews other FBI investigators conducted with persons that reported AHIs. According to ''The New Yorker'', the unit also reviewed the ] compiled by the patients' neuropsychologists and other physicians, who had already ruled out mass psychogenic illness as a cause.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/><ref name="Out6"/> | |||
A November 2018 report in '']'' 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, even to other U.S. government agencies, the identities of affected officers because of concern about possible leaks. Federal rules on the privacy of employee medical records also hindered the investigation.<ref name=EntousAnderson/> | |||
A November 2018 report in '']'' 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, even to other U.S. government agencies, the identities of affected officers because of concern about possible leaks. Federal rules on the privacy of employee medical records also hindered the investigation.<ref name="Entous 2018-11-19"/> | |||
====2018 ''JAMA'' report==== | |||
At the U.S. government's request, ] researchers examined 21 affected diplomats posted to Cuba, and the preliminary results were published in the '']'' (''JAMA'') in March 2018. The researchers found "no evidence of ] tract abnormalities" in affected diplomats beyond what might be seen in a ] of the same age, but described "a new syndrome in the diplomats that resembles ]".<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|last1=Sample|first1=Ian|title=Fresh row over mysterious sickness affecting US diplomats in Cuba|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/24/fresh-row-over-mysterious-sickness-affecting-us-diplomats-in-cuba|website=The Guardian|date=February 24, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180406215410/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/24/fresh-row-over-mysterious-sickness-affecting-us-diplomats-in-cuba|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="March2019JAMA">{{cite journal|display-authors=3|first1=Randel L. |last1=Swanson II|first2=Stephen |last2=Hampton|first3=Judith |last3=Green-McKenzie|first4=Ramon |last4=Diaz-Arrastia|first5=M. Sean |last5=Grady|first6=Ragini |last6=Verma|first7=Rosette |last7=Biester|first8=Diana |last8=Duda|first9=Ronald L. |last9=Wolf|first10=Douglas H. |last10=Smith|title=Neurological Manifestations Among US Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana, Cuba|journal=Journal of the American Medical Association|volume=319 |issue=11 |year=2018 |pages=1125–1133 |doi=10.1001/jama.2018.1742 |pmid=29450484 |pmc=5885885}}</ref> While some of those affected recovered swiftly, others had symptoms for months. The study concluded that "the diplomats appear to have sustained injury to ]."<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="March2019JAMA"/> | |||
==== University of Pennsylvania study ==== | |||
In 2018, Douglas H. Smith, the lead author of a ] study of 21 affected diplomats in Havana published in ''JAMA'', said in an interview that microwaves were "considered a main suspect" underlying the phenomenon.<ref name="BroadSuspect">{{cite news|last=Broad|first=William J.|date=September 1, 2018|title=Microwave Weapons Are Prime Suspect in Ills of U.S. Embassy Workers|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/science/sonic-attack-cuba-microwave.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513141918/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/science/sonic-attack-cuba-microwave.html|archive-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> A 2018 study published in the journal '']'' by Beatrice Alexandra Golomb rejected the idea that a sonic attack was the source of the symptoms and concluded that the facts were consistent with ]<ref name="pmid33341130"/>/] (RF/MW) exposure. Golomb wrote that (1) the nature of the noises the diplomats reported was consistent with sounds caused by pulsed RF/MW via the ]; (2) the signs and symptoms the diplomats reported matched symptoms from RF/MW exposure (problems with sleep, cognition, vision, balance, speech; headaches; sensations of pressure or vibration; nosebleeds; brain injury and brain swelling); (3) "] provides a documented mechanism of RF/MW injury compatible with reported signs and symptoms"; and (4) in the past, the U.S. embassy in Moscow was subject to a microwave beam called the ].<ref name=Golomb2018>{{Cite journal |last=Golomb |first=Beatrice Alexandra |date=November 2018 |title=Diplomats' Mystery Illness and Pulsed Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation |journal=Neural Computation |volume=30 |issue=11 |pages=2882–2985 |doi=10.1162/neco_a_01133 |pmid=30183509 |s2cid=52162053 |issn=0899-7667|doi-access=free }}</ref> The Moscow Signal was inferred to be a Soviet espionage technique that might have also had health effects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Long before Havana Syndrome, the U.S. reported microwaves beamed at an embassy |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1047342593/long-before-havana-syndrome-u-s-reported-microwaves-beamed-at-an-embassy|access-date=October 27, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126212741/https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1047342593/long-before-havana-syndrome-u-s-reported-microwaves-beamed-at-an-embassy|url-status=live}}</ref> Neuroscientist Allan H. Frey, for whom the Frey effect is named, considers the microwave theory viable.<ref name="BroadSuspect"/> | |||
At the U.S. government's request, ] (UPenn) researchers examined 21 affected diplomats posted to Cuba, and the preliminary results were published in the '']'' (''JAMA'') in March 2018. The researchers found "no evidence of ] tract abnormalities" in affected diplomats beyond what might be seen in a ] of the same age, but described "a new syndrome in the diplomats that resembles ]".<ref name="Sample">{{cite web|last1=Sample|first1=Ian|title=Fresh row over mysterious sickness affecting US diplomats in Cuba|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/24/fresh-row-over-mysterious-sickness-affecting-us-diplomats-in-cuba|website=The Guardian|date=February 24, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180406215410/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/24/fresh-row-over-mysterious-sickness-affecting-us-diplomats-in-cuba|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Swanson II">{{cite journal|display-authors=3|first1=Randel L. |last1=Swanson II|first2=Stephen |last2=Hampton|first3=Judith |last3=Green-McKenzie|first4=Ramon |last4=Diaz-Arrastia|first5=M. Sean |last5=Grady|first6=Ragini |last6=Verma|first7=Rosette |last7=Biester|first8=Diana |last8=Duda|first9=Ronald L. |last9=Wolf|first10=Douglas H. |last10=Smith|title=Neurological Manifestations Among US Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana, Cuba|journal=Journal of the American Medical Association|volume=319 |issue=11 |year=2018 |pages=1125–1133 |doi=10.1001/jama.2018.1742 |pmid=29450484 |pmc=5885885}}</ref> While some of those affected recovered swiftly, others had symptoms for months. The study concluded that "the diplomats appear to have sustained injury to ]."<ref name="Sample"/><ref name="Swanson II"/> | |||
In September 2018, Douglas H. Smith, the lead author of the UPenn study, said in an interview that microwaves were "considered a main suspect" underlying the phenomenon.<ref name="Broad">{{cite news|last=Broad|first=William J.|date=September 1, 2018|title=Microwave Weapons Are Prime Suspect in Ills of U.S. Embassy Workers|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/science/sonic-attack-cuba-microwave.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513141918/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/science/sonic-attack-cuba-microwave.html|archive-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> A 2018 study by Beatrice Alexandra Golomb determined that the symptoms and circumstances of AHIs were consistent with ] radiation.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite journal |vauthors=Nelson R |date=December 2021 |title=Havana syndrome might be the result of energy pulses |journal=Lancet |volume=396 |issue=10267 |pages=1954 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32711-2 |pmid=33341130 |s2cid=229306878}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Golomb |first=Beatrice Alexandra |date=November 2018 |title=Diplomats' Mystery Illness and Pulsed Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation |journal=Neural Computation |volume=30 |issue=11 |pages=2882–2985 |doi=10.1162/neco_a_01133 |pmid=30183509 |s2cid=52162053 |issn=0899-7667|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Myre 2021-11-21">{{Cite news |title=Long before Havana Syndrome, the U.S. reported microwaves beamed at an embassy |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1047342593/long-before-havana-syndrome-u-s-reported-microwaves-beamed-at-an-embassy|access-date=October 27, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126212741/https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1047342593/long-before-havana-syndrome-u-s-reported-microwaves-beamed-at-an-embassy|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
A March 2018 editorial in ''JAMA'' by two neurologists argued that a ] such as persistent postural-perceptual dizziness ("a syndrome characterized primarily by chronic symptoms of dizziness and perceived unsteadiness, often triggered by acute or chronic vestibular disease, neurological or medical illness or psychological distress") could explain some of the symptoms the diplomats in Cuba experienced.<ref name=MuthLewis>{{cite news|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673164|title=Editorial: Neurological Symptoms Among US Diplomats in Cuba|date=March 20, 2018|last1=Muth|first1=Christopher C.|last2=Lewis|first2=Steven L.|pages=1098–1100|volume=319|issue=11|access-date=November 3, 2021|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016191217/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673164|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=====Criticism of University of Pennsylvania study===== | |||
The same issue of ''JAMA'' that contained the UPenn study also contained an editorial criticizing the UPenn study. The editorial criticized the lack of a ], lack of baseline evaluations, and lack of ]. The editorial expressed concern that many of the measurements were based on patient self-reports or involved subjective interpretations. The editorial said that the UPenn study's conclusion (that the subjects suffered brain injuries) was flawed, because there were other (non-injury) explanations that were consistent with the symptoms, such as ]s, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness, or psychogenic causes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673164|title=Editorial: Neurological Symptoms Among US Diplomats in Cuba|date=March 20, 2018|last1=Muth|first1=Christopher C.|last2=Lewis|first2=Steven L.|pages=1098–1100|volume=319|issue=11|access-date=November 3, 2021|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016191217/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673164|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hurley, Dan "The Mystery Behind Neurological Symptoms Among US Diplomats in Cuba - Lots of Questions, Few Answers" 22 March 2018, ''Neurology Today'', Vol. 18, Issue 6 - p. 1-37 doi: 10.1097/01.NT.0000532085.86007.9b https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/Fulltext/2018/03220/The_Mystery_Behind_Neurological_Symptoms_Among_US.1.aspx</ref> | |||
The UPenn study was criticized again in ''JAMA'', in August 2018, by several physicians and scientists who asserted that the study overlooked many other possible causes of the AHIs.<ref name="gia1">Gianoli GJ, Soileau JS, Wackym PA. Neurological Symptoms in US Government Personnel in Cuba. JAMA. 2018;320(6):603–604. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.8713</ref><ref name="bart2">Bartholomew RE. Neurological Symptoms in US Government Personnel in Cuba. JAMA. 2018;320(6):602. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.8702</ref> | |||
The editorial board of the journal '']'' published an editorial referring to the ''JAMA'' research's "gross methodological flaws" and registering concern that it had been published. In the board's view, "Allowing such confused and conflicting explanations of methodology and analysis to pass unchallenged is a slippery path for science, and dangerous for society at large".<ref name=cortex>{{cite journal |author=Cortex Editorial Board |title=Responsibility of neuropsychologists: The case of the 'sonic attack' |journal=Cortex |volume=108 |pages=A1–A2 |date=November 2018 |pmid=30340749 |doi=10.1016/j.cortex.2018.10.001 |s2cid=195663840 }}</ref> | |||
The UPenn study was also criticized in late 2018 by the neuroscience journal '']''. The journal's editorial board, led by ], published an letter stating that the study had "gross methodological flaws" and asking the authors of the study to clarify their methods or retract the study. In the board's view, "Allowing such confused and conflicting explanations of methodology and analysis to pass unchallenged is a slippery path for science, and dangerous for society at large".<ref>{{cite journal |author=Cortex Editorial Board |title=Responsibility of neuropsychologists: The case of the 'sonic attack' |journal=Cortex |volume=108 |pages=A1–A2 |date=November 2018 |pmid=30340749 |doi=10.1016/j.cortex.2018.10.001 |s2cid=195663840 }}</ref><ref name="della2">Della Sala S, Cubelli R. Alleged "sonic attack" supported by poor neuropsychology. Cortex. 2018 Jun;103:387-388. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.03.006. Epub 2018 Apr 5. PMID: 29709238</ref> | |||
As early as 2018, some scientists, including physicist ], bioengineers Kenneth R. Foster, and Andrei G. Pakhomov, and UCLA neurologist Robert Baloh, said that the microwave hypothesis was implausible; Baloh called the National Academies conclusion "science fiction".<ref name="KaplanAchenbach">{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Sarah |last2=Achenbach |first2=Joel |title=Scientists and doctors zap theory that microwave weapon injured Cuba diplomats |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-and-doctors-zap-theory-that-microwave-weapon-injured-cuba-diplomats/2018/09/06/aa51dcd0-b142-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073921/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-and-doctors-zap-theory-that-microwave-weapon-injured-cuba-diplomats/2018/09/06/aa51dcd0-b142-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Bokat-Lindell>{{Cite web|last=Bokat-Lindell|first=Spencer|date=October 26, 2021|title=Is 'Havana Syndrome' an 'Act of War' or 'Mass Hysteria'?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/havana-syndrome-disorder.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 26, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026223928/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/havana-syndrome-disorder.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In late 2018, some scientists, including physicist ], bioengineers Kenneth R. Foster, and Andrei G. Pakhomov, and UCLA neurologist Robert Baloh, said that the microwave hypothesis was implausible; Baloh described the conclusions of the UPenn study as "science fiction".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Sarah |last2=Achenbach |first2=Joel |title=Scientists and doctors zap theory that microwave weapon injured Cuba diplomats |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-and-doctors-zap-theory-that-microwave-weapon-injured-cuba-diplomats/2018/09/06/aa51dcd0-b142-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073921/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-and-doctors-zap-theory-that-microwave-weapon-injured-cuba-diplomats/2018/09/06/aa51dcd0-b142-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bokat-Lindell|first=Spencer|date=October 26, 2021|title=Is 'Havana Syndrome' an 'Act of War' or 'Mass Hysteria'?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/havana-syndrome-disorder.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 26, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026223928/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/havana-syndrome-disorder.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In 2024, scientists with the NIH published a study of 86 AHI patients in which they were unable to replicate the UPenn results.<ref name="JAMA3"/> | |||
====2018 JASON report==== | ====2018 JASON report==== | ||
In 2018, ], a group of physicists and scientists who advise the U.S. government, analyzed audio recordings from eight of the original 21 incidents of Havana syndrome and two cellphone videos taken by one patient from Cuba. |
In 2018, ], a group of physicists and scientists who advise the U.S. government, analyzed audio recordings from eight of the original 21 incidents of Havana syndrome and two cellphone videos taken by one patient from Cuba. The report's findings were first reported in July 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levinson |first1=Charles |title=Special Report: Inside a Trump-era purge of military scientists at a legendary think tank |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-science-specialreport/special-report-inside-a-trump-era-purge-of-military-scientists-at-a-legendary-think-tank-idUSKCN1UP15P |work=Reuters |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730163637/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-science-specialreport/special-report-inside-a-trump-era-purge-of-military-scientists-at-a-legendary-think-tank-idUSKCN1UP15P |url-status=live}}</ref> Parts of JASON's report were declassified in September 2021.<ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20">{{cite news |last1=Vergano |first1=Dan |title=A Declassified State Department Report Says Microwaves Didn't Cause 'Havana Syndrome' |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/havana-syndrome-jason-crickets |access-date=September 30, 2021 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=September 30, 2021 |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930163842/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/havana-syndrome-jason-crickets |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20" /> | ||
The report concluded that the sounds in the audio recordings were "most likely" caused by insects and that it was "highly unlikely" that microwaves or ultrasound beams were involved, because "No plausible single source of energy (neither radio/microwaves nor sonic) can produce ''both'' the recorded audio/video signals ''and'' the reported medical effects."<ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20" /> The group determined with "high confidence" that two audio sources were sounds from the ].<ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20" /> The report stated "It cannot be ruled out that while the perceived sounds, while not harmful, are introduced by an adversary as deception so as to mask an entirely unrelated mode of causing illness."<ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20" /> The report also concluded that while the cause of the condition was unknown, "psychogenic effects may serve to explain important components of the reported injuries".<ref name="Vergano 2021-09-20"/> | |||
===2019=== | ===2019=== | ||
In January 2019, biologists Alexander L. Stubbs of the ] and Fernando Montealegre-Z of the ] analyzed audio recordings made in Cuba, which were made by U.S. personnel in Havana during incidents associated with Havana syndrome.<ref name=APRecordings>{{cite news|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Weissenstein|first2=Michael|title=Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks|url=https://apnews.com/article/health-north-america-ap-top-news-cuba-health-mystery-international-news-88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|access-date=November 4, 2021|work=Associated Press News|date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105030445/https://apnews.com/article/health-north-america-ap-top-news-cuba-health-mystery-international-news-88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|url-status=live}}</ref> The conclusion was that the sounds were the calling song of the ] (''Anurogryllus celerinictus'') rather than a technological device. Stubbs and Montealegre-Z matched the song's "pulse repetition rate, power spectrum, pulse rate stability, and oscillations per pulse" to the recording.<ref name=NYTCricket>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/science/sonic-attack-cuba-crickets.html|title=The Sounds That Haunted U.S. Diplomats in Cuba? Lovelorn Crickets, Scientists Say|first=Carl|last=Zimmer|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105224042/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/science/sonic-attack-cuba-crickets.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="biorxiv">{{cite bioRxiv|title=Recording of 'sonic attacks' on U.S. diplomats in Cuba spectrally matches the echoing call of a Caribbean cricket|first1=Alexander L.|last1=Stubbs|first2=Fernando|last2=Montealegre-Z|biorxiv=10.1101/510834|year=2019}}</ref> Stubbs and Montealegre wrote, "the causes of the health problems reported by embassy personnel are beyond the scope of this paper" and called for "more rigorous research into the source of these ailments, including the potential psychogenic effects, as well as possible physiological explanations unrelated to sonic attacks."<ref name="biorxiv"/> This conclusion was comparable to a 2017 hypothesis from Cuban scientists that the sound on the same recording is from ]s.<ref name=NYTCricket/><ref name="StoneFeb15">{{cite journal|title=U.S. diplomats in Cuba have unusual brain syndrome, but there's no proof they were attacked, study says|first=Richard|last=Stone|date=February 15, 2018|journal=Science|doi=10.1126/science.aat3410|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=PanelClaims>{{cite journal|title=Cuban panel claims stress caused mystery illnesses|first=Richard|last=Stone|date=December 8, 2017|journal=Science|volume=358|issue=6368|pages=1236–1237|doi=10.1126/science.358.6368.1236|pmid=29217550|bibcode=2017Sci...358.1236S}}</ref><ref name="ScienceMag">{{cite journal|last1=Stone|first1=Richard|title=Sonic attack or mass paranoia? New evidence stokes debate over diplomats' mysterious illness|journal=Science|date=June 20, 2018|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/sonic-attack-or-mass-paranoia-new-evidence-stokes-debate-over-diplomats-mysterious|access-date=July 24, 2019 |doi=10.1126/science.aau5386 |doi-broken-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083857/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/sonic-attack-or-mass-paranoia-new-evidence-stokes-debate-over-diplomats-mysterious|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====Analysis of insect noises==== | |||
In response to a December 2017 State Department request, the U.S. ] conducted a "Cuba Unexplained Events Investigation".<ref name="buzzfeed2">{{cite news |last1=Vergano |first1=Dan |title=Medical Records Can't Explain "Havana Syndrome," A Buried CDC Report Says |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/cdc-investigation-cuba-havana-syndrome |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=] |date=January 15, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143904/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/cdc-investigation-cuba-havana-syndrome |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CDC">*{{Cite book | |||
In January 2019, biologists Alexander L. Stubbs of the ] and Fernando Montealegre-Z of the ] analyzed audio recordings made by American personnel in Havana during incidents associated with Havana syndrome.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Weissenstein|first2=Michael|title=Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks|url=https://apnews.com/article/health-north-america-ap-top-news-cuba-health-mystery-international-news-88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|access-date=November 4, 2021|work=Associated Press News|date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105030445/https://apnews.com/article/health-north-america-ap-top-news-cuba-health-mystery-international-news-88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|url-status=live}}</ref> The conclusion was that the sounds were the calling song of the ] (''Anurogryllus celerinictus'') rather than those of a technological device. Stubbs and Montealegre-Z matched the song's "pulse repetition rate, power spectrum, pulse rate stability, and oscillations per pulse" to the recording.<ref name="Zimmer">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/science/sonic-attack-cuba-crickets.html|title=The Sounds That Haunted U.S. Diplomats in Cuba? Lovelorn Crickets, Scientists Say|first=Carl|last=Zimmer|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105224042/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/science/sonic-attack-cuba-crickets.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Stubbs">{{cite bioRxiv|title=Recording of 'sonic attacks' on U.S. diplomats in Cuba spectrally matches the echoing call of a Caribbean cricket|first1=Alexander L.|last1=Stubbs|first2=Fernando|last2=Montealegre-Z|biorxiv=10.1101/510834|year=2019}}</ref> Stubbs and Montealegre wrote, "the causes of the health problems reported by embassy personnel are beyond the scope of this paper" and called for "more rigorous research into the source of these ailments, including the potential psychogenic effects, as well as possible physiological explanations unrelated to sonic attacks."<ref name="Stubbs"/> This conclusion was comparable to a 2017 hypothesis by Cuban scientists that the sound on the same recording is that of ]s.<ref name="Zimmer"/><ref>{{cite journal|title=U.S. diplomats in Cuba have unusual brain syndrome, but there's no proof they were attacked, study says|first=Richard|last=Stone|date=February 15, 2018|journal=Science|doi=10.1126/science.aat3410|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Cuban panel claims stress caused mystery illnesses|first=Richard|last=Stone|date=December 8, 2017|journal=Science|volume=358|issue=6368|pages=1236–1237|doi=10.1126/science.358.6368.1236|pmid=29217550|bibcode=2017Sci...358.1236S}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Stone|first1=Richard|title=Sonic attack or mass paranoia? New evidence stokes debate over diplomats' mysterious illness|journal=Science|date=June 20, 2018|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/sonic-attack-or-mass-paranoia-new-evidence-stokes-debate-over-diplomats-mysterious|access-date=July 24, 2019 |doi=10.1126/science.aau5386 |doi-broken-date=November 1, 2024|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083857/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/sonic-attack-or-mass-paranoia-new-evidence-stokes-debate-over-diplomats-mysterious|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
|url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/documents/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved/CDC%20%2320200983DOS255%20Final%20Report.pdf |title=CUBA Unexplained Events Investigation - Final Report|date=December 3, 2019|publisher=]|access-date=May 10, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422231026/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/documents/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved/CDC%20%2320200983DOS255%20Final%20Report.pdf|url-status=live}} | |||
*{{cite web |title=CDC Report on the 'Havana Syndrome': Medical Mystery Remains Unresolved |url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved |publisher=], ] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513185407/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved |url-status=live }}</ref> The two-year investigation of the medical records of 95 U.S. diplomats and family members in Havana who reported symptoms resulted in a final report, marked ], dated December 2019.<ref name=BriefingBook>{{cite book|editor-link=Peter Kornbluh|editor-last=Kornbluh|editor-first=Peter|url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved|title=Briefing Book #739: CDC Report on the 'Havana Syndrome' |publisher=], ]|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510012837/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====Psychogenic cause proposed==== | |||
A 2019 study commissioned by ] of 23 exposed Canadian diplomats, completed in May 2019, found "clinical, imaging, and biochemical evidence consistent with the hypothesis" of overexposure to ]s (a class of ] ]) such as ]s (OPs) as a cause of brain injury; the embassies and other places in Cuba had been sprayed frequently as an anti-] ] measure.<ref name="Friedman2019">{{cite report|first1=Alon|last1=Friedman|first2=Cindy|last2=Calkin|first3=Chris|last3=Bowen|date=May 24, 2019|title=Havana Syndrome: Neuroanatomical and Neurofunctional Assessment in Acquired Brain Injury Due to Unknown Etiology|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/426438895/Etude-du-Centre-de-traitement-des-lesions-cerebrales-de-l-Universite-de-Dalhousie |access-date=September 20, 2019|via=Scribd|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920140338/https://www.scribd.com/document/426438895/Etude-du-Centre-de-traitement-des-lesions-cerebrales-de-l-Universite-de-Dalhousie |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Chartrand>{{cite news |last1=Chartrand |first1=Luc |last2=Movilla |first2=Martin |last3=Ellenwood |first3=Lisa |title=Havana syndrome: Exposure to neurotoxin may have been cause, study suggests |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/havana-syndrome-neurotoxin-enqu%C3%AAte-1.5288609 |work=] |date=September 19, 2019|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920022556/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/havana-syndrome-neurotoxin-enqu%C3%AAte-1.5288609|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Neuro">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-diplomats-canada/neurotoxin-may-have-caused-diplomats-illness-in-cuba-study-idUSKBN1W42QU|title=Neurotoxin may have caused diplomats' illness in Cuba: study|last1=Frank|first1=Marc|work=]|date=September 19, 2019|access-date=September 19, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920142231/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-diplomats-canada/neurotoxin-may-have-caused-diplomats-illness-in-cuba-study-idUSKBN1W42QU|url-status=live}}</ref> The study concluded that other possible causes could not be ruled out.<ref name="Friedman2019"/> | |||
In a 2019 paper, ] and Robert Baloh proposed that the syndrome represents ] rather than a "novel clinical entity".<ref name="Bartholomew">{{Cite journal|last1=Bartholomew|first1=Robert E|last2=Baloh|first2=Robert W|date=January 1, 2020 |title=Challenging the diagnosis of 'Havana Syndrome' as a novel clinical entity|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076819877553|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine |language=en |volume=113 |issue=1 |pages=7–11 |doi=10.1177/0141076819877553 |issn=0141-0768 |pmc=6961165 |pmid=31672089}}</ref> They cite the vagueness and inconsistency of symptoms as well as the circumstances they developed in (affected staff would have been under significant stress as the U.S. had just reopened its embassy in Cuba) as a cause.<ref name="Bartholomew"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaffney |first1=Adam |title=The Big Misunderstanding About Havana Syndrome |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/havana-syndrome-the-misconception-about-a-mystery-illness.html |work=New York |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108223354/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/havana-syndrome-the-misconception-about-a-mystery-illness.html |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |date=November 8, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>"The Real Story Behind the Havana Embassy Mystery", Hick, Jack, January 6, 2019, ''Vanity Fair'' https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/01/the-real-story-behind-the-havana-embassy-mystery</ref> The scientists assert that the Havana Syndrome is an example of the ] {{emdash}} where the fear of an anticipated harmful event (e.g. an energy weapon attack) causes symptoms. The scientists noted that, even when AHIs are psychogenic in nature, the symptoms experienced by the patients can be authentic.<ref name="pj1">"Nocebo: the placebo effect’s evil twin" ''The Pharmaceutical Journal'', PJ, March 2018, Vol 300, No 7911;300(7911):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2018.20204524 https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feature/nocebo-the-placebo-effects-evil-twin</ref><ref>"Sonic Scares: Havana Syndrome" May 3, 2024 book preview in ''Mayo Clinic Press'' https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/research-innovation/sonic-scares-havana-syndrome/</ref><ref name="it">"Uncommon Diagnosis: Havana Syndrome" 3rd February 2022 ''Irish Medical Times'' https://www.imt.ie/features-opinion/uncommon-diagnosis-havana-syndrome-03-02-2022/</ref><ref name="pt2">"Evidence Mounts that Mass Suggestion Caused 'Havana Syndrome'" Robert Bartholomew October 11, 2021 ''Psychology Today'' https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/its-catching/202110/evidence-mounts-mass-suggestion-caused-havana-syndrome?msockid=09c8976888d96cc13ba68208894b6dc6</ref> | |||
==== CDC report ==== | |||
In a 2019 paper, ] and Robert Baloh propose that the syndrome represents ] rather than a "novel clinical entity".<ref name=2020Bartholomew>{{Cite journal|last1=Bartholomew|first1=Robert E|last2=Baloh|first2=Robert W|date=January 1, 2020 |title=Challenging the diagnosis of 'Havana Syndrome' as a novel clinical entity|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076819877553|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine |language=en |volume=113 |issue=1 |pages=7–11 |doi=10.1177/0141076819877553 |issn=0141-0768 |pmc=6961165 |pmid=31672089}}</ref> They cite the vagueness and inconsistency of symptoms as well as the circumstances they developed in (affected staff would have been under significant stress as the U.S. had just reopened its embassy in Cuba) as a cause.<ref name=2020Bartholomew/><ref name=Intelligencer>{{cite web |last1=Gaffney |first1=Adam |title=The Big Misunderstanding About Havana Syndrome |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/havana-syndrome-the-misconception-about-a-mystery-illness.html |work=New York |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108223354/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/havana-syndrome-the-misconception-about-a-mystery-illness.html |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |date=November 8, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In late 2017, the US Congress asked the ] (CDC) to investigate the syndrome. In response, the CDC studied the medical histories of 95 diplomats and family members that reported symptoms. The report, published in December 2019, was given to Congress and to the executive branch, but not released to the public. The report concluded "The evaluations conducted thus far have not identified a mechanism of injury, process of exposure, effective treatment, or mitigating factor for the unexplained cluster of symptoms experienced by those stationed in Havana." The report noted that 15 of the 95 persons reported similar symptoms, which occurred in two phases. Inconsistencies in the medical records, as well as long times between symptoms and medical tests, impaired the CDC's ability to draw clear conclusions from the medical data. The CDC decided not to conduct a retrospective ] because of the length of time between the event and the onset of symptoms, which could lead to ] and ]es that "could generate misleading or obscured findings".<ref name="Vergano 2021-01-15">{{cite news |last1=Vergano |first1=Dan |title=Medical Records Can't Explain "Havana Syndrome," A Buried CDC Report Says |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/cdc-investigation-cuba-havana-syndrome |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=] |date=January 15, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143904/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/cdc-investigation-cuba-havana-syndrome |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CDC etal">*{{Cite book | |||
|url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/documents/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved/CDC%20%2320200983DOS255%20Final%20Report.pdf |title=CUBA Unexplained Events Investigation - Final Report|date=December 3, 2019|publisher=]|access-date=May 10, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422231026/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/documents/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved/CDC%20%2320200983DOS255%20Final%20Report.pdf|url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite web |title=CDC Report on the 'Havana Syndrome': Medical Mystery Remains Unresolved |url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved |publisher=], ] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513185407/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Kornbluh">{{cite book|editor-link=Peter Kornbluh|editor-last=Kornbluh|editor-first=Peter|url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved|title=Briefing Book #739: CDC Report on the 'Havana Syndrome' |publisher=], ]|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510012837/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-02-02/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In December 2020, ] news noticed that the NASEM report mentioned the CDC report, and so they made a ] request, and obtained the CDC report. In January 2021, Buzzfeed published the CDC report. Buzzfeed quoted neurologist Robert Baloh as saying "Essentially the CDC is saying that they have no idea what happened in Cuba."<ref name="Vergano 2021-01-15"/><ref name="Kornbluh"/> <ref name="CDC etal"/> | |||
==== 2019 ''JAMA'' report ==== | |||
Ragini Verma, the lead author of a ] study published in ''JAMA'' in 2019 that found brain differences in diplomats, concluded that based on its findings, "a wholly psychogenic or psychosomatic cause was very unlikely". Verma's results were criticized by several scientists, including one that noted that 12 of the 21 ostensible victims had a history of concussions prior to traveling to Cuba.<ref name="Carey">{{cite news|author=Benedict Carey|date=July 23, 2019|title=Were U.S. Diplomats Attacked in Cuba? Brain Study Deepens Mystery|newspaper=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/science/cuba-diplomats-health.html |url-status=live|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202142220/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/science/cuba-diplomats-health.html|archive-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Ragini|last1=Verma|first2=Randel L|last2=Swanson|first3=Drew|last3=Parker|first4=Abdol Aziz Ould |last4=Ismail|first5=Russell T.|last5=Shinohara|first6=Jacob A. |last6=Alappatt|first7=Jimit|last7=Doshi|first8=Christos |last8=Davatzikos|first9=Michael|last9=Gallaway|first10=Diana|last10=Duda|first11=H. Isaac|last11=Chen|first12=Junghoon J.|last12=Kim |first13=Ruben C.|last13=Gur|first14=Ronald L. |last14=Wolf |first15=M. Sean |last15=Grady |first16=Stephen |last16=Hampton|first17=Ramon |last17=Diaz-Arrastia |first18=Douglas H. |last18=Smith|display-authors=3|title=Neuroimaging Findings in US Government Personnel With Possible Exposure to Directional Phenomena in Havana, Cuba|journal=JAMA|volume=322|issue=4|pages=336–347|date=July 23, 2019|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2738552|doi=10.1001/jama.2019.9269|pmid=31334794 |access-date=March 21, 2024|pmc=6652163}}</ref> Later, more detailed studies published in 2024 were unable to reproduce Verma's findings, and concluded that there were no significant differences in MRIs between people reporting Havana syndrome, and controls groups.<ref name="Barnes"/> | |||
===2020=== | ===2020=== | ||
====Developments==== | |||
In October 2020, the '']'' reported that U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers, including senior leaders, had clashed with ] appointees, including ] ] and State Department leaders, over the nature and causes of the suspected attacks.<ref name="NYT19Oct2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/politics/diplomat-attacks-havana-syndrome.html |title=U.S. Diplomats and Spies Battle Trump Administration Over Suspected Attacks |work=] |author=Ana Swanson |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019234012/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/politics/diplomat-attacks-havana-syndrome.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A ''New York Times''<!--do not abbreviate to just "Times"--> investigation found that the State Department had "produced inconsistent assessments of patients and events, ignored outside medical diagnoses and withheld basic information from Congress".<ref name="NYT19Oct2020"/> Despite the general view within the U.S. government that Russia was responsible, two U.S. officials told ''The New York Times'' that Haspel was not convinced of Russia's responsibility, or even whether an attack occurred.<ref name="NYT19Oct2020"/> | |||
In October 2020, the '']'' reported that U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers, including senior leaders, had clashed with ] appointees, including ] ] and State Department leaders, over the nature and causes of the suspected attacks.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/politics/diplomat-attacks-havana-syndrome.html |title=U.S. Diplomats and Spies Battle Trump Administration Over Suspected Attacks |work=] |author=Ana Swanson |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019234012/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/politics/diplomat-attacks-havana-syndrome.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A ''New York Times''<!--do not abbreviate to just "Times"--> investigation found that the State Department had "produced inconsistent assessments of patients and events, ignored outside medical diagnoses and withheld basic information from Congress".<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> Despite the general view within the U.S. government that Russia was responsible, two U.S. officials told ''The New York Times'' that Haspel was not convinced of Russia's responsibility, or even whether an attack occurred.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> | |||
Many current and former U.S. officials stated that Russia was likely responsible for the alleged attacks,<ref name=Atwood>{{cite news|last=Atwood|first=Kylie|date=February 24, 2021|title=CIA launches task force to probe invisible attacks on US diplomats and spies as one victim finds some relief|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/cia-diplomats-sonic-attacks-task-force/index.html|access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=CNN|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225161528/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/cia-diplomats-sonic-attacks-task-force/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a suspicion shared by both Trump and Biden administration officials.<ref name=Entous/> This view was shared by CIA analysts on Russia, State Department officials, outside science experts, and several of the alleged victims.<ref name=" |
Many current and former U.S. officials stated that Russia was likely responsible for the alleged attacks,<ref name=Atwood>{{cite news|last=Atwood|first=Kylie|date=February 24, 2021|title=CIA launches task force to probe invisible attacks on US diplomats and spies as one victim finds some relief|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/cia-diplomats-sonic-attacks-task-force/index.html|access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=CNN|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225161528/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/cia-diplomats-sonic-attacks-task-force/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a suspicion shared by both Trump and Biden administration officials.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/> This view was shared by CIA analysts on Russia, State Department officials, outside science experts, and several of the alleged victims.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> Russia has a history of researching, developing, and using weapons that cause brain injuries, such as the ]-era "]" targeting the American embassy in Moscow.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/><ref name="Borger">{{cite news |first=Julian |last=Borger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/02/microwave-weapons-havana-syndrome-experts |title=Microwave weapons that could cause Havana Syndrome exist, experts say |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127001231/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/02/microwave-weapons-havana-syndrome-experts |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | ||
In 2020 it was reported that a 2014 NSA report raised suspicions that Russia used a microwave weapon to target a person's living quarters, causing nervous system damage; and Russia has an interest in disrupting cooperation among the U.S., China, and Cuba.<ref name=" |
In 2020 it was reported that a 2014 NSA report raised suspicions that Russia used a microwave weapon to target a person's living quarters, causing nervous system damage; and Russia has an interest in disrupting cooperation among the U.S., China, and Cuba.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> The U.S. diplomats stationed in China and Cuba who reported ailments were working to increase cooperation with those countries, and some CIA analysts voiced suspicion Russia thus sought to derail their work.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> | ||
A ] investigation resulted in an April 2020 determination that there was "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" by State Department leadership.<ref name=" |
A ] investigation resulted in an April 2020 determination that there was "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" by State Department leadership.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> Mark Lenzi, who was a State Department ] stationed in Guangzhou, accused the department of a "deliberate, high-level cover-up" and of failing to protect their employees.<ref name="Swanson 2020-10-19"/> Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year CIA veteran, who retired in 2019, similarly felt betrayed by CIA leadership, accusing the agency of failing to respond appropriately to a ]-inducing incident in Moscow in December 2017 (Polymeropoulos said the event was an attack and "the most terrifying experience of my life", worse than experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan).<ref name=Atwood/> Polymeropoulos fought with the CIA for years to obtain specialized medical treatment, after the agency cast doubt on the similarities between the symptoms he experienced and those experienced by the diplomats in Havana.<ref name=Atwood/> Polymeropoulos was ultimately diagnosed at the U.S. government's ] with traumatic brain injury.<ref name=Atwood/> | ||
Near the end of the Trump administration, the Defense Department established a task force to investigate reports of attacks on DoD personnel abroad.<ref name= |
Near the end of the Trump administration, the Defense Department established a task force to investigate reports of attacks on DoD personnel abroad.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> The DoD established the task force partly due to frustration over what DoD officials considered to be a sluggish and lackluster response by the CIA and Department of State.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> ], who was acting defense secretary at the time, said in 2021 that "I knew CIA and Department of State were not taking this shit seriously and we wanted to shame them into it by establishing our task force."<ref name="Bo Williams"/> Miller said that he began to consider the reports of mysterious symptoms to be a high priority in December 2020, after he conducted an interview with a person with major combat experience who detailed symptoms.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> | ||
In December 2020, the CIA established a task force to investigate.<ref name= |
In December 2020, the CIA established a task force to investigate.<ref name="Bo Williams"/><ref name=Atwood/> The agency set up the task force after continued reports of debilitating attacks against CIA officers in various places around the world.<ref name=Atwood/> The CIA expanded its investigation under Director ], who took office in 2021;<ref name="Bo Williams"/> Burns appointed a senior CIA officer who had previously led the ] to lead the agency's investigation.<ref name="Myre 2021-11-20"/> | ||
In 2020, a book by Bartholomew and Baloh, ''Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria'', was published; it argued in support of the psychogenic illness hypothesis.<ref |
In 2020, a book by Bartholomew and Baloh, ''Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria'', was published; it argued in support of the psychogenic illness hypothesis.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Baloh|first1=Robert W.|last2=Bartholomew|first2=Robert E.|title=Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AjYDwAAQBAJ|publisher=Springer International|date=2020|isbn=9783030407469|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303150226/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Havana_Syndrome/2AjYDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
====NASEM report==== | ====NASEM report==== | ||
The State Department commissioned the ] (NASEM) to study Havana Syndrome. The committee met throughout 2020 and released their report in December 2020. The committee noted that lack of information and direct evidence (such as medical testing data about affected persons) limited what it could conclude about the phenomenon, and that "each possible cause remains speculative" and that "the report should not be viewed as conclusive". The committee considered four causes: directed Radio Frequency (RF) energy, toxic chemicals, infectious diseases, and psychological issues. The committee deemed the RF pulses as the most plausible, with psychological causes as a secondary contributing factor. The committee considered toxic chemicals and infectious diseases as unlikely causes.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Relman |editor1-first=David A. |editor2-last=Pavlin |editor2-first=Julie A. |title=An Assessment of Illness in U.S. Government Employees and Their Families at Overseas Embassies |date=5 December 2020 |publisher=National Academies of Sciences |doi=10.17226/25889 |pmid=33411434 |isbn=978-0-309-68137-7 |s2cid=230639099 |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303003621/https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Nelson"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/havana-syndrome-likely-caused-microwave-energy-government-study-finds-n1250094|date=December 5, 2020|title='Havana Syndrome' likely caused by pulsed microwave energy, government study finds|first1=Brenda|last1=Breslauer|first2=Ken|last2=Dilanian|first3=Josh|last3=Lederman|publisher=NBC News|access-date=February 27, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303165859/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/havana-syndrome-likely-caused-microwave-energy-government-study-finds-n1250094|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Havana syndrome' likely caused by directed microwaves – US report |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55203844 |website=BBC News |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928060801/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55203844 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |date=December 6, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NAS etal"> | |||
* {{cite report |editor1-last=Relman |editor1-first=David A. |editor2-last=Pavlin |editor2-first=Julie A. |
* {{cite report |editor1-last=Relman |editor1-first=David A. |editor2-last=Pavlin |editor2-first=Julie A. |author=((National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Standing Committee to Advise the Department of State on Unexplained Health Effects on U.S. Government Employees and Their Families at Overseas Embassies)) |title=Consensus Study Report: An Assessment of Illness in U.S. Government Employees and Their Families at Overseas Embassies |url=https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |year=2020 |publisher=] |doi=10.17226/25889 |pmid=33411434 |isbn=978-0-309-68137-7 |s2cid=230639099 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209002236/https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |archive-date=December 9, 2020 }} | ||
* {{cite web |title=New Report Assesses Illnesses Among U.S. Government Personnel and Their Families at Overseas Embassies |url=https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/12/new-report-assesses-illnesses-among-us-government-personnel-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |type=news release |publisher=] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |date=December 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602052405/https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/12/new-report-assesses-illnesses-among-us-government-personnel-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |url-status=live }} | * {{cite web |title=New Report Assesses Illnesses Among U.S. Government Personnel and Their Families at Overseas Embassies |url=https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/12/new-report-assesses-illnesses-among-us-government-personnel-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |type=news release |publisher=] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |date=December 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602052405/https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/12/new-report-assesses-illnesses-among-us-government-personnel-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |url-status=live }} | ||
* {{cite journal |last1=Hubler |first1=Graham K. |last2=Hoffman |first2=Stuart W. |last3=Andreadis |first3=Tim D. |last4=DePalma |first4=Ralph G. |title=Pulsed Microwave Energy Transduction of Acoustic Phonon Related Brain Injury |journal=Frontiers in Neurology |date=August 4, 2020 |volume=11 |pages=753 |doi=10.3389/fneur.2020.00753 |pmid=32849213 |pmc=7417645 |doi-access=free }} | * {{cite journal |last1=Hubler |first1=Graham K. |last2=Hoffman |first2=Stuart W. |last3=Andreadis |first3=Tim D. |last4=DePalma |first4=Ralph G. |title=Pulsed Microwave Energy Transduction of Acoustic Phonon Related Brain Injury |journal=Frontiers in Neurology |date=August 4, 2020 |volume=11 |pages=753 |doi=10.3389/fneur.2020.00753 |pmid=32849213 |pmc=7417645 |doi-access=free }} | ||
* {{cite web |last1=Teschler |first1=Leland |title=Microwaves and the Havana Syndrome |url=https://www.eeworldonline.com/microwaves-and-the-havana-syndrome/ |website=] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |date=June 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531180437/https://www.eeworldonline.com/microwaves-and-the-havana-syndrome/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
* {{cite web |last1=Teschler |first1=Leland |title=Microwaves and the Havana Syndrome |url=https://www.eeworldonline.com/microwaves-and-the-havana-syndrome/ |website=] |access-date=May 7, 2022 |date=June 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531180437/https://www.eeworldonline.com/microwaves-and-the-havana-syndrome/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vergano |first1=Dan |title=Scientists Are Slamming A Report Saying Microwave Attacks Could Have Caused 'Havana Syndrome' In US Diplomats |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-diplomats |access-date=April 12, 2021 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=December 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412170516/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-diplomats |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="McCammon">{{Cite news|last=McCammon|first=Sarah|date=October 15, 2021|title=New cases of 'Havana Syndrome' grow as cause remains a mystery|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/15/1046519741/new-cases-of-havana-syndrome-grow-as-cause-remains-a-mystery|access-date=November 11, 2021|time=5:59|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110101516/https://www.npr.org/2021/10/15/1046519741/new-cases-of-havana-syndrome-grow-as-cause-remains-a-mystery|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
The committed found that many of the AHI symptoms were consistent with exposure to directed RF energy. The committee outlined additional research that needs to be conducted before concrete conclusions can be reached.<ref name="NAS etal"/>{{rp|20}} | |||
The 2020 NASEM study found that it was unlikely that "acute high-level exposure to OPs and/or pyrethroids contributed" to the illnesses, due to a lack of evidence of exposures to those pesticides or clinical histories consistent with such exposure,<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|23}} but the study committee "could not rule out the possibility, although slight, that exposure to insecticides, particularly OPs, increased susceptibility to the triggering factor(s) that caused the Embassy personnel cases".<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|23}} NASEM also found it "highly unlikely" that an infectious disease (such as Zika virus, which was an epidemic in Cuba in 2016–17) caused the illnesses.<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|23–24}} | |||
The NASEM study found that it was unlikely that the symptoms were caused by toxic chemicals, such as insecticides or pesticides, due to a lack of evidence of exposures to those pesticides or clinical histories consistent with such exposure.<ref name="NAS etal"/>{{rp|23}} NASEM also found it highly unlikely that an infectious disease (such as ], which was an epidemic in Cuba in 2016–17) caused the illnesses.<ref name="NAS etal"/>{{rp|23–24}} | |||
The 2020 NASEM analysis appeared to show that psychological issues were not the likely cause of the injuries,<ref name=Crawford>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Crawford |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/head-injuries-us-diplomats-government-study/index.html |title='Sonic attacks' suffered by US diplomats likely caused by microwave energy, government study says |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206161635/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/head-injuries-us-diplomats-government-study/index.html |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |work=CNN |date=December 5, 2020}}</ref> but the different ways people were affected left open the possible influence of psychological and social factors.<ref name="NYT05Dec2020">{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ana |last2=Wong |first2=Edward |title=Report Points to Microwave 'Attack' as Likely Source of Mystery Illnesses That Hit Diplomats and Spies |newspaper=] |date=December 5, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205165206/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html |archive-date=December 5, 2020}}</ref> The report reads, "the likelihood of mass psychogenic illness as an explanation for patients' symptoms had to be established from sufficient evidence" and "could not be inferred merely by the absence of other causal mechanisms or the lack of definitive structural injuries".<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|26}} In its assessment of potential social and psychological causes, the committee notes the possibility of stress-based psychological responses, and that these were more likely to be triggered by potential threats attributed to human sources than other stressors. It concludes that these could not have caused the acute "audio-vestibular" symptoms some patients experienced, such as sudden unexplained sounds.<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|25}} The scope of the provided data limited the committee's ability to investigate psychological and social factors.<ref name=NatAcademies/>{{rp|26–27}} | |||
The NASEM analysis considered pyschogenic, social, and psychological causes for the symptoms, but was not able to draw a conclusion that these were likely or unlikely causes of most of the symptoms. The study stated that psychological causes were unlikely to be the cause of the acute and chronic auditory and vestibular symttoms that were reported by some patients.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Crawford |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/head-injuries-us-diplomats-government-study/index.html |title='Sonic attacks' suffered by US diplomats likely caused by microwave energy, government study says |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206161635/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/head-injuries-us-diplomats-government-study/index.html |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |work=CNN |date=December 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ana |last2=Wong |first2=Edward |title=Report Points to Microwave 'Attack' as Likely Source of Mystery Illnesses That Hit Diplomats and Spies |newspaper=] |date=December 5, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205165206/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html |archive-date=December 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NAS etal"/>{{rp|25–28}} | |||
In October 2021, ], a former chemist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, said that there were no microwave experts on the NASEM committee and that "No evidence has been offered that such a weapon has been developed by any nation." Rofer also cited a 1978 study that found no adverse health effects from the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rofer|first=Cheryl|date=May 10, 2021|title=Claims of Microwave Attacks Are Scientifically Implausible|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/10/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-scientifically-implausible|access-date=October 26, 2021|website=Foreign Policy|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026215439/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/10/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-scientifically-implausible/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
===2021=== | ===2021=== | ||
{{section too long|date=March 2024}} | |||
In January 2021, both ] and ]'s ] obtained the 2018 CDC report, pursuant to ] requests. (Some material in the released report was redacted for medical privacy reasons.)<ref name="buzzfeed2"/><ref name=BriefingBook/> The CDC developed a "case definition" of Havana syndrome, consisting of a ] (two-stage) syndrome.<ref name=CDC/><ref name=BriefingBook/> The first phase of symptoms (sometimes closely after an ] or ] event) consisted of one or more of the following symptoms: head pressure, disorientation, nausea or headache, ], or auditory or visual syndromes.<ref name=CDC/> The second phase of symptoms, occurring sometime later, consisted of ]s, vestibular disturbances, or both.<ref name=CDC/><ref name=BriefingBook/> The report concluded, "Of the 95 persons whose medical records CDC evaluated, 15 had illnesses that met the criteria for a presumptive case definition. CDC classified 31 others as possible cases and the remaining 49 as not likely to be a case."<ref name=CDC/> Two years later, six of the subjects in the CDC investigation were still being rehabilitated for their injuries, and four were still unable to return to work.<ref name="buzzfeed2"/> The CDC decided not to conduct a retrospective ] because of the length of time between the event and the onset of symptoms, which could lead to ] and ]es that "could generate misleading or obscured findings".<ref name="buzzfeed2"/> The CDC concluded, "The evaluations conducted thus far have not identified a mechanism of injury, process of exposure, effective treatment, or mitigating factor for the unexplained cluster of symptoms experienced by those stationed in Havana."<ref name="CDC"/> | |||
==== Developments ==== | |||
In February, the U.S. State Department said that its ongoing investigation was "a high priority" for the department.<ref name=Atwood/> Also in February, sources familiar with the various ongoing investigations told CNN that a primary obstacle to progress by the U.S. government in investigating the syndrome was a lack of coordination among the CIA, FBI, ], and State Department, which conducted separate and "largely siloed" investigations.<ref name=Atwood/> The limited coordination among the agencies was due in part to "the highly classified nature of some details and the privacy restrictions of health records, and that has hampered progress".<ref name=Atwood/> | |||
Citing unnamed intelligence and government officials, '']'' reported in July 2021 that the ], ], and ] established two outside panels, one to investigate possible causes and the other to develop defensive countermeasures for personnel protection; ] external scientists would be permitted to view relevant ] in their investigations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Julian E. |date=July 8, 2021 |title=Spy Agencies Turn to Scientists as They Wrestle With Mysteries |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/us/politics/intelligence-agencies-science.html |work=] |access-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708090310/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/us/politics/intelligence-agencies-science.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In September 2021, it was reported that within the U.S. government, analysts had debated whether the alleged attacks reflected a deliberate attempt to cause injury, or whether the reported symptoms were "a consequence of a high-tech attempt to steal classified information from phones and computers of U.S. officials".<ref name="Myre 2021-11-20"/> Also in September, CIA Deputy Director ] said that the investigation had "gotten closer" to making a determination, "but not close enough to make the ] that people are waiting for".<ref name="Myre 2021-11-20"/> Also in September, it was reported that multiple anecdotes from various Western diplomats stationed overseas, including in Russia, describe mysterious ailments during past decades that might be due to microwave devices.<ref name="Corera">{{cite web |last1=Corera |first1=Gordon |title='Havana syndrome' and the mystery of the microwaves |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58396698 |website=BBC News |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928061039/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58396698 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |date=September 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Myre 2021-11-21"/> | |||
In March 2021, the State Department appointed Ambassador ], a career foreign service officer, to oversee the department ] charged with responding to the incidents.<ref name=WilliamsHerb/><ref name=SpratlenHire>{{Cite web|last=Hansler|first=Jennifer|date=March 12, 2021|title=State Department names senior official to lead response to mysterious 'Havana syndrome' attacks|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/politics/state-department-havana-syndrome-coordinator/index.html|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170734/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/politics/state-department-havana-syndrome-coordinator/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Six months later, Spratlen left her position as coordinator of the task force because she "reached the threshold of hours of labor" that she could perform as a retiree. Her resignation had been demanded by people angered by her handling of a conference call with affected employees. During the call with employees (in which Secretary of State ] also took part), Spratlen did not take a position on whether the syndrome was psychogenic, a response that affected diplomats called "invalidating".<ref name=HudsonHarris/><ref name=SpratlenFire>{{Cite web|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Breslauer|first2=Brenda|date=September 22, 2021|title=Diplomat overseeing 'Havana Syndrome' response is out after 6 months|publisher=]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/diplomat-overseeing-havana-syndrome-response-out-after-6-months-n1279906|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014015311/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/diplomat-overseeing-havana-syndrome-response-out-after-6-months-n1279906|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In October 2021, it was reported that an unclassified NSA report from 2014 indicated a hostile country in the 1990s possessed a "high powered microwave system weapon that may have the ability to weaken, intimidate or kill an enemy over time and without leaving evidence".<ref name="Myre 2021-11-21"/> | |||
In May 2021, ''Politico'' reported that that intelligence officials had recently told Congress that the investigation had expanded to include ] and had focused "on the potential involvement of GRU, the Russian spy agency". ''Politico'' also reported that three current and former U.S. officials "with direct knowledge of the discussions" said that the U.S. government suspected that Russia's military intelligence agency, ], was behind alleged attacks, although the U.S. Intelligence Community have not "reached a consensus or made a formal determination".<ref name=politicounit>{{cite news|date=May 10, 2021|title=Russian spy unit suspected of directed-energy attacks on U.S. personnel|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/10/russia-gru-directed-energy-486640|last1=Seligman|first1=Lara|last2=Desiderio|first2=Andrew|work=]|access-date=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511075124/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/10/russia-gru-directed-energy-486640|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In November 2021, Secretary of State Blinken appointed two senior U.S. diplomats to oversee the department's internal Health Incident Response Task Force: career ] Ambassador ] as overall coordinator<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/jonathan-moore/ |title=State Department website, July 12, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713183022/https://www.state.gov/biographies/jonathan-moore/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and retired Ambassador ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Olivia |last=Gazis |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-blinken-response/ |title=Secretary of State Blinken appoints two diplomats to lead 'Havana Syndrome' response |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105195851/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-blinken-response/ |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |work=CBS News |date=November 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Missy |last=Ryan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/havana-syndrome-jonathan-moore-margaret-uyehara/2021/11/05/6f970d50-3e3d-11ec-a67c-d7c2182dac83_story.html |title=State Dept. names new team to oversee 'Havana Syndrome' response |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105191018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/havana-syndrome-jonathan-moore-margaret-uyehara/2021/11/05/6f970d50-3e3d-11ec-a67c-d7c2182dac83_story.html |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> | |||
Also in May, ''The New Yorker'' reported that the U.S. government's "working hypothesis" was that GRU agents "have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials to collect intelligence from their computers and cell phones, and that these devices can cause serious harm to the people they target".<ref name=Entous/> The U.S. government has not publicly accused Russia; U.S. intelligence officials privately call the events "attacks" but publicly call them "anomalous health incidents".<ref name=Entous/> According to two officials interviewed by ''Politico'', "While investigators have not determined definitively that these incidents are caused by a specific weapon, some believe any such device would be primarily transported by vehicle", and "Some could be small enough to fit into a large backpack, and an individual can be targeted from 500 to 1,000 yards away."<ref name=politicounit/> James Lin of the ], an expert on the biological effects of microwave energy, agreed that a Havana syndrome attack could be caused by a small apparatus that could fit in a van or SUV.<ref name=BorgerExpertsSay/> | |||
The ] leadership (chair ] and vice chair ]) said in 2021 that it was working with Burns and the CIA on connection with the investigation, saying, "We have already held fact finding hearings on these debilitating attacks, many of which result in medically confirmed cases of Traumatic Brain Injury, and will do more."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gabby |last=Birenbaum |url=https://www.vox.com/2021/5/1/22414235/senate-intelligence-committee-havana-syndrome-warner-rubio |title=Reports of possible 'Havana syndrome' attacks are now documented in the US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522161821/https://www.vox.com/2021/5/1/22414235/senate-intelligence-committee-havana-syndrome-warner-rubio |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Vox |date=May 1, 2021}}</ref> | |||
A May 2021 report in ''The New Yorker'' cited a number of incidents recounted by Mark Vandroff, who served as the senior director for defense policy at the National Security Council: "One of the most dramatic episodes involved a U.S. military officer stationed in a country with a large Russian presence. As the officer pulled his car into a busy intersection, he suddenly felt as though his head were going to explode. His two-year-old son, in a car seat in the back, started screaming. As the officer sped out of the intersection, the pressure in his head ceased, and his son went quiet. A remarkably similar incident was reported by a CIA officer who was stationed in the same city, and who had no connection to the military officer."<ref name=Entous/> | |||
After the reports of the incident at The Ellipse nearby the White House in Washington, Defense Department investigators briefed members of Congress, even though it occurred within the U.S.; this was because the DoD investigation was more advanced than the FBI or the intelligence community investigations.<ref name="Bo Williams"/> | |||
Citing unnamed intelligence and government officials, '']'' reported in July 2021 that the ], ], and ] established two outside panels, one to investigate potential causes and the other to develop defensive countermeasures for personnel protection; ] external scientists would be permitted to view relevant ] in their investigations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Julian E. |date=July 8, 2021 |title=Spy Agencies Turn to Scientists as They Wrestle With Mysteries |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/us/politics/intelligence-agencies-science.html |work=] |access-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708090310/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/us/politics/intelligence-agencies-science.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==== U.S. State Department ==== | |||
In September 2021, it was reported that within the U.S. government, analysts had debated whether the alleged attacks reflected a deliberate attempt to cause injury, or whether the reported symptoms were "a consequence of a high-tech attempt to steal classified information from phones and computers of U.S. officials".<ref name="Myre" /> Also in September, CIA Deputy Director ] said that the investigation had "gotten closer" to making a determination, "but not close enough to make the ] that people are waiting for".<ref name=Myre/> Also in September, it was reported that multiple anecdotes from various Western diplomats stationed overseas, including in Russia, describe mysterious ailments during past decades that might be due to microwave devices.<ref name="Corera">{{cite web |last1=Corera |first1=Gordon |title='Havana syndrome' and the mystery of the microwaves |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58396698 |website=BBC News |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928061039/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58396698 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |date=September 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Also in September, a panel of 16 scientists affiliated with the ] and convened by the Cuban government addressed the microwave hypothesis, writing, "No known form of energy can selectively cause brain damage (with laser-like spatial accuracy) under the conditions described for the alleged incidents in Havana."<ref name="news.yahoo.com"/> | |||
In February, the U.S. State Department said that its ongoing investigation was "a high priority" for the department.<ref name=Atwood/> Also in February, sources familiar with the various ongoing investigations told CNN that a primary obstacle to progress by the U.S. government in investigating the syndrome was a lack of coordination among the CIA, FBI, ], and State Department, which conducted separate and "largely siloed" investigations.<ref name=Atwood/> The limited coordination among the agencies was due in part to "the highly classified nature of some details and the privacy restrictions of health records, and that has hampered progress".<ref name=Atwood/> | |||
==== Media reports ==== | |||
In October 2021, it was reported that an unclassified NSA report from 2014 indicated a hostile country in the 1990s possessed a "high powered microwave system weapon that may have the ability to weaken, intimidate or kill an enemy over time and without leaving evidence".<ref name=":0" /> Also in October, ], a former chemist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, said that there were no microwave experts on the NAS committee and that "No evidence has been offered that such a weapon has been developed by any nation." Rofer also cited a 1978 study that found no adverse health effects from the ].<ref name=Rofer>{{Cite web|last=Rofer|first=Cheryl|date=May 10, 2021|title=Claims of Microwave Attacks Are Scientifically Implausible|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/10/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-scientifically-implausible|access-date=October 26, 2021|website=Foreign Policy|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026215439/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/10/microwave-attacks-havana-syndrome-scientifically-implausible/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In May 2021, the ''The New Yorker'' reported that some unnamed officials in the government believe that GRU agents have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials, to obtain information from phones and computers, and that the radiation may be harmful. The article also quoted a government official who interviewed several overseas workers that reported episodes of pain or dizziness when near GRU locations.<ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/><ref name="Entous 2021-05-31"/> According to two unnamed officials interviewed by ''Politico'', "While investigators have not determined definitively that these incidents are caused by a specific weapon, some believe any such device would be primarily transported by vehicle", and "Some could be small enough to fit into a large backpack, and an individual can be targeted from 500 to 1,000 yards away."<ref name="Seligman">{{cite news|date=May 10, 2021|title=Russian spy unit suspected of directed-energy attacks on U.S. personnel|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/10/russia-gru-directed-energy-486640|last1=Seligman|first1=Lara|last2=Desiderio|first2=Andrew|work=]|access-date=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511075124/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/10/russia-gru-directed-energy-486640|url-status=live}}</ref> An article in '']'' interviewed experts regarding the feasibility of AHIs being caused by microwave weapons, and some of the experts stated that it was plausible, but others stated it was not plausible.<ref name="Borger"/> | |||
====Cuban Academy of Sciences==== | |||
In November 2021, Secretary of State Blinken appointed two senior U.S. diplomats to oversee the department's internal Health Incident Response Task Force: career ] Ambassador ] as overall coordinator<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/jonathan-moore/ |title=State Department website, July 12, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713183022/https://www.state.gov/biographies/jonathan-moore/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and retired Ambassador ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Olivia |last=Gazis |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-blinken-response/ |title=Secretary of State Blinken appoints two diplomats to lead 'Havana Syndrome' response |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105195851/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-blinken-response/ |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |work=CBS News |date=November 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Missy |last=Ryan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/havana-syndrome-jonathan-moore-margaret-uyehara/2021/11/05/6f970d50-3e3d-11ec-a67c-d7c2182dac83_story.html |title=State Dept. names new team to oversee 'Havana Syndrome' response |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105191018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/havana-syndrome-jonathan-moore-margaret-uyehara/2021/11/05/6f970d50-3e3d-11ec-a67c-d7c2182dac83_story.html |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> | |||
In September 2021, the ] released a report prepared by 21 scientists and academics. The report determined that prior analyses by United States scientists were biased and relied on evidence that was cherry-picked to support the narrative of attacks by a foreign adversary. The Cuban scientists stated that alternative explanations, including psychogenic causes, were suppressed in the US investigations. The Cuban report concluded that there is no weapon that can inflict the kinds of ailments reported, and that the most likely explanation of the syndrome was mass psychogenic illness, perhaps combined with prior existing medical conditions.<ref name="Cuban scientists"/><ref name="CubaAcademyReport">"Una Evaluación de los Incidentes de Salud Ocurridos Durante Estancias en La Habana de Empleados de Gobiernos Extranjeros y sus Familias" September 2021 ''Academia de Ciencias de Cuba'' http://media.cubadebate.cu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/reporteacc_incidentes_salud.pdf</ref><ref name="PrRel"> "¿Existe el síndrome de La Habana?" 15 December 2020 ''Academia de Ciencias de Cuba'' | |||
The ] leadership (chair ] and vice chair ]) said in 2021 that it was working with Burns and the CIA on connection with the investigation, saying, "We have already held fact finding hearings on these debilitating attacks, many of which result in medically confirmed cases of Traumatic Brain Injury, and will do more."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gabby |last=Birenbaum |url=https://www.vox.com/2021/5/1/22414235/senate-intelligence-committee-havana-syndrome-warner-rubio |title=Reports of possible 'Havana syndrome' attacks are now documented in the US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522161821/https://www.vox.com/2021/5/1/22414235/senate-intelligence-committee-havana-syndrome-warner-rubio |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Vox |date=May 1, 2021}}</ref> | |||
https://revistaccuba.sld.cu/index.php/revacc/article/view/963/975</ref><ref name="GrExp">"Grupo de Expertos de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba: La narrativa del “síndrome misterioso” no es científicamente aceptable" 13 Sept 2021, ''CubaDebate'' http://www.cubadebate.cu/especiales/2021/09/13/grupo-de-expertos-de-la-academia-de-ciencias-de-cuba-la-narrativa-del-sindrome-misterioso-no-es-cientificamente-aceptable-pdf/</ref><ref name="SinMist">"¿Síndrome misterioso?: Expertos cubanos afirman que no hay evidencia científica de “ataques sónicos” en La Habana" Andy Jorge Blanco 13 Sept 2021 ''CubaDebate'' http://www.cubadebate.cu/especiales/2021/09/13/sindrome-misterioso-expertos-cubanos-afirman-que-no-hay-evidencia-cientifica-de-ataques-sonicos-en-la-habana/ | |||
</ref><ref name="InfDept"> "Informe del Departamento de Estado descarta que las microondas causaron los supuestos ataques sónicos" 1 Oct 2021 http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2021/10/01/informe-del-departamento-de-estado-descarta-que-las-microondas-causaron-los-supuestos-ataques-sonicos/</ref> | |||
===2022=== | |||
In September 2021, the BBC wrote the syndrome has "a real impact on the country's ability to operate overseas", reporting that one official called the deciphering of the cause "the most difficult intelligence challenge they have ever faced".<ref name="Corera" /> | |||
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====Developments==== | |||
In February 2022, the ] released a summary of a report written by a panel of scientists. Regarding AHI patients that reported four particular "core" symptoms, the report determined that pulsed electromagnetic energy and ultrasound were plausible causes for those cases. The report stated that psychogenic factors could explain the other instances of AHI (that did not involve all four symptoms).<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Havana Syndrome could be caused by pulsed energy devices – US expert report |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/havana-syndrome-concealable-devices-cia-report |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203000713/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/havana-syndrome-concealable-devices-cia-report |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In late 2022 the US Defense Health Agency issued Form 244, ''Anomalous Health Incident (AHI) Acute Assessment'', described as "a multi-domain assessment that should be used to evaluate patients for potential AHI".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhaj7-cepo.com/content/tbicoe-anomalous-health-incident-ahi-acute-assessment-training-2022-2023|title=TBICoE: Anomalous Health Incident (AHI) Acute Assessment Training 2022–2023 |website=DHA J-7 CEPO Continuing Education Management System}}</ref> | |||
After the reports of the incident at The Ellipse nearby the White House in Washington, Defense Department investigators briefed members of Congress, even though it occurred within the U.S.; this was because the DoD investigation was more advanced than the FBI or the intelligence community investigations.<ref name=WilliamsHerb/> | |||
In October 2022, CNN reported that some three dozen CIA officers had accused the agency of dragging its feet in the investigation, including some who had filed formal whistleblower complaints.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author1=Katie Bo Lillis |author2=Jeremy Herb |author3=Kylie Atwood |date=2022-10-05 |title=Exclusive: Dozens of CIA officers accuse intel agency of soft-pedaling its 'Havana Syndrome' investigation {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/05/politics/cia-investigation-havana-syndrome-mysterious-illness/index.html |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> | |||
After the initial reports of the incidents in Havana, the FBI's ] visited the city and came to the assessment that the individuals were experiencing a mass psychogenic illness.<ref name=Nast>{{Cite magazine|date=May 21, 2021|title=Are U.S. Officials Under Silent Attack?|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|access-date=October 26, 2021|magazine=The New Yorker|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027114834/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/are-us-officials-under-silent-attack|url-status=live}}</ref> The Behavioral Analysis Unit profilers did not speak to any of the affected people directly, instead relying on transcripts of previous interviews that the FBI had conducted with patients.<ref name=Nast/> The unit reviewed the ] compiled by the patients' neuropsychologists and other physicians, who had already ruled out mass psychogenic illness, noting that "many of the victims didn't know about the other people who were sick, and their bodies couldn't have feigned some of the symptoms they were exhibiting."<ref name=Nast/> | |||
=== |
====CIA Report==== | ||
In January 2022, |
In January 2022, the ] issued an interim report that summarized an ongoing study of roughly 1,000 reported cases of AHI. The study concluded that it was unlikely that a foreign power was responsible for the AHIs, and that the study had not yet found evidence of involvement by a state actor. The report said that most of the reviewed cases could be explained by natural causes such as environmental causes, undiagnosed medical conditions, or stress. The study identified about 24 cases for which foreign involvement could not be ruled out, and said that investigation is continuing.<ref name="Dilanian">{{Cite web|title=CIA says 'Havana Syndrome' not result of sustained campaign by hostile power|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cia-says-havana-syndrome-not-result-sustained-global-campaign-hostile-rcna12838|date=January 20, 2022|access-date=January 20, 2022|publisher=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128160228/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cia-says-havana-syndrome-not-result-sustained-global-campaign-hostile-rcna12838|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ps1">{{cite news |last1=Seo |first1=Hannah |title=What causes Havana Syndrome? Not foreign attackers, CIA says |url=https://www.popsci.com/science/havana-syndrome-cia-report/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |work=] |date=January 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421033156/https://www.popsci.com/science/havana-syndrome-cia-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
====2022 JASON Report==== | |||
On February 1, 2022, a declassified US intelligence report (IC Experts Panel on Anomalous Health Incidents) called pulsed electromagnetic energy and ultrasound plausible causes and said that concealable devices exist that could produce the observed symptoms.<ref name="guard">{{Cite news |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Havana Syndrome could be caused by pulsed energy devices – US expert report |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/havana-syndrome-concealable-devices-cia-report |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203000713/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/02/havana-syndrome-concealable-devices-cia-report |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
On February 10, 2022, the State Department released unclassified portions of a report it had commissioned from the ].<ref name="JSR-21-01" /> It had tasked JASON to consider all available data and evaluate potential directed energy mechanisms with regard to their ability to produce the reported effects. | |||
The study found that 80–90% of the incidents could be easily explained by everyday occurrences or other unrelated factors. For the 10–20% that could not be easily explained, JASON was not able to perform a statistical analysis due to lack of data on a comparable background population, small numbers, and generally low data quality.<ref name="JSR-21-01">{{cite web |title=An Analysis of Data and Hypotheses Related to the Embassy Incidents |url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JASON-Study-Revised_10-February-2022-Redacted_V1.1.pdf |website=state.gov |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014084219/https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JASON-Study-Revised_10-February-2022-Redacted_V1.1.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |language=en-US |date=February 10, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In late 2022 the US Defense Health Agency issued Form 244, ''Anomalous Health Incident (AHI) Acute Assessment'', described as "a multi-domain assessment that should be used to evaluate patients for potential AHI".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhaj7-cepo.com/content/tbicoe-anomalous-health-incident-ahi-acute-assessment-training-2022-2023|title=TBICoE: Anomalous Health Incident (AHI) Acute Assessment Training 2022–2023 |website=DHA J-7 CEPO Continuing Education Management System}}</ref> | |||
The study also examined whether or not ] could be the cause of AHIs. The study concluded that several forms of radiation could be ruled out, including ionizing radiation, acoustic energy, and RF energy at frequencies less than 500 MHz or greater than 30 GHz. After considering factors such as ability to aim and to penetrate building walls, the remaining frequencies{{emdash}}between 500 MHz and 30 GHz{{emdash}}were determined to be a "highly unlikely" cause, although they could not be conclusively ruled out.<ref name="JSR-21-01" /> | |||
=== 2023 === | |||
===2023=== | ====2023 U.S. intelligence report==== | ||
On March 1, 2023, the ] released a report, titled "Intelligence Community Assessment", which was jointly prepared by seven U.S. intelligence agencies and published by the ] (ODNI). The report concluded "that there is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing AHIs". The agencies preparing the report reviewed thousands of possible cases of Havana syndrome. The reported stated that there continues to be scientific debate about whether a weapon could produce such health effects.<ref name="DNI etal" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Julian E. |last2=Entous |first2=Adam |date=2023-03-01 |title=Foreign Adversaries 'Very Unlikely' to Blame for Havana Syndrome, Intelligence Review Finds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/politics/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report.html |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Shane |last2=Hudson |first2=John |date=2023-03-02 |title='Havana syndrome' not caused by energy weapon or foreign adversary, intelligence review finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report-weapon/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> | |||
====March 2023 U.S. intelligence agencies' report==== | |||
On March 1, 2023, the ] released a report, titled "Intelligence Community Assessment", which was jointly prepared by seven U.S. intelligence agencies. The report concluded "that there is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing AHIs". The agencies preparing the report reviewed thousands of possible cases of Havana syndrome. The reported stated that there continues to be scientific debate about whether a weapon could produce such health effects.{{r|"DNI ICA on AHIs"}} | |||
Five of the seven agencies involved in generating the report concluded "the available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely". One of the other agencies concluded that foreign involvement was "unlikely", and the seventh agency declined to make a finding.<ref name="DNI |
Five of the seven agencies involved in generating the report concluded "the available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely". One of the other agencies concluded that foreign involvement was "unlikely", and the seventh agency declined to make a finding.<ref name="DNI etal">*{{cite web |author1=] |title=Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents |publisher=] |url=https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Updated_Assessment_of_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302012032/https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Updated_Assessment_of_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |url-status=live }} | ||
*{{cite web |author1=] |access-date=3 March 2023 |publisher=] |title=IC Targeting and Collection Efforts Point Away From Adversary Involvement in Anomalous Health Incidents |url=https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/IC_Targeting_and_Collection_Efforts_Point_Away_From_Adversary_Involvement_in_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301200329/https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/IC_Targeting_and_Collection_Efforts_Point_Away_From_Adversary_Involvement_in_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=] |title=DNI Statement on the Intelligence Community Assessment on AHIs |url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2023/item/2361-dni-statement-on-the-intelligence-community-assessment-on-ahis |website=] |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302223609/https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2023/item/2361-dni-statement-on-the-intelligence-community-assessment-on-ahis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name |
* {{cite web |author1=] |access-date=3 March 2023 |publisher=] |title=IC Targeting and Collection Efforts Point Away From Adversary Involvement in Anomalous Health Incidents |url=https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/IC_Targeting_and_Collection_Efforts_Point_Away_From_Adversary_Involvement_in_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301200329/https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/IC_Targeting_and_Collection_Efforts_Point_Away_From_Adversary_Involvement_in_Anomalous_Health_Incidents.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=] |title=DNI Statement on the Intelligence Community Assessment on AHIs |url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2023/item/2361-dni-statement-on-the-intelligence-community-assessment-on-ahis |website=] |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302223609/https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2023/item/2361-dni-statement-on-the-intelligence-community-assessment-on-ahis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Wong">{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |title='Havana syndrome' not caused by foreign adversary, US intelligence says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/01/havana-syndrome-us-intelligence-services-determine-no-foreign-adversaries |website=The Guardian |access-date=March 2, 2023 |date=March 1, 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302000851/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/01/havana-syndrome-us-intelligence-services-determine-no-foreign-adversaries |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Harris">{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Shane |last2=John |first2=Hudson |title='Havana syndrome' not caused by energy weapon or foreign adversary, intelligence review finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report-weapon/ |access-date=March 2, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 1, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230301182328/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report-weapon/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjE4ODE3MjEzIiwicmVhc29uIjoiZ2lmdCIsIm5iZiI6MTY3NzY0NjgwMCwiaXNzIjoic3Vic2NyaXB0aW9ucyIsImV4cCI6MTY3ODkzOTE5OSwiaWF0IjoxNjc3NjQ2ODAwLCJqdGkiOiIyMmZlYTNlMy05ZTdhLTQ3M2YtOTQ3Ni1lOGUzMGUxMGFmODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vbmF0aW9uYWwtc2VjdXJpdHkvMjAyMy8wMy8wMS9oYXZhbmEtc3luZHJvbWUtaW50ZWxsaWdlbmNlLXJlcG9ydC13ZWFwb24vIn0.lYakiy-fQtMx1E9OoPAvI2J5UdgQDt3_QBHTnnXYrOw#selection-273.0-273.93|archive-date=1 March 2023}}</ref> | ||
Two of the seven agencies had "high confidence in this judgment while three agencies have moderate confidence". Two other agencies judged "that deliberate causal mechanisms are unlikely to have caused AHIs" but those agencies had "low confidence because they judge(d) that radiofrequency (RF) energy is a plausible cause for AHIs, based in part on the findings of the IC Expert Panel and the results of research by some US laboratories." |
Two of the seven agencies had "high confidence in this judgment while three agencies have moderate confidence". Two other agencies judged "that deliberate causal mechanisms are unlikely to have caused AHIs" but those agencies had "low confidence because they judge(d) that radiofrequency (RF) energy is a plausible cause for AHIs, based in part on the findings of the IC Expert Panel and the results of research by some US laboratories."<ref name="DNI etal" /> | ||
Regarding the study, government officials said: "There is no one explanation for these incidents. Instead, there are many different possible causes including environmental as well as social factors and preexisting medical conditions." The officials also said that the investigative efforts were 'extremely aggressive' and involved "a high degree of risk", and "Intelligence officers vigorously studied what happened in the hours, days and weeks surrounding the incidents... In some instances they found malfunctioning HVAC systems, which can cause discomfort to humans, and in other cases there were computer mice that created surprising disruptions... We weren't finding what we expected to find... There is no one explanation for any of this."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Atwood |first1=Kylie |last2=Hansler |first2=Jennifer |date=2 March 2023 |title=US intelligence community cannot link 'Havana Syndrome' cases to a foreign adversary |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/us-intel-community-havana-syndrome/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304040211/https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/us-intel-community-havana-syndrome/index.html |archive-date=4 March 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN |access-date=4 March 2023}}</ref> | |||
Of the report, CIA Director ] said, "The intelligence community assessment released today by ODNI reflects more than two years of rigorous, painstaking collection, investigative work, and analysis by IC agencies including CIA... We applied the |
Of the report, CIA Director ] said, "The intelligence community assessment released today by ODNI reflects more than two years of rigorous, painstaking collection, investigative work, and analysis by IC agencies including CIA... We applied the agency's very best operational, analytic, and technical tradecraft to what is one of the largest and most intensive investigations in the agency's history."<ref>"Statement by CIA Director William J. Burns on the IC Assessment on AHIs" 1 Mar 2023 ''CIA Office of Public Affairs Press Release'' https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/statement-cia-director-burns-on-ic-assessment-ahis/</ref> | ||
] summarized the results by saying, "The finding undercuts a years-long narrative, propped up by more than a thousand reports from government employees, that a foreign adversary used pulsed electro-magnetic energy waves to sicken Americans."<ref |
] summarized the results by saying, "The finding undercuts a years-long narrative, propped up by more than a thousand reports from government employees, that a foreign adversary used pulsed electro-magnetic energy waves to sicken Americans."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seligman |first1=Lara |last2=Banco |first2=Erin |title=Intel community bats down main theory behind 'Havana Syndrome' incidents |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-cia-intelligence-00085021 |work=Politico |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230304034007/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-cia-intelligence-00085021 |archive-date=4 March 2023 |date=1 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
===== |
=====Reactions===== | ||
Following release of the March 2023 report, Trump's national security adviser ] revealed that when the Cuban attack reports began, he "pretty quickly" came to believe that this was not in Cuba's interest, and in any case thought it was beyond that nation's capabilities. He assumed Russia was involved, but said that he chose not to brief the president on that belief as he did not think Trump would support that theory due to his prior associations with ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |title=John Bolton chose not to brief Trump on Russia Havana syndrome suspicion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/john-bolton-donald-trump-russia-havana-syndrome |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230313143155/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/john-bolton-donald-trump-russia-havana-syndrome |archive-date=13 March 2023 |date=13 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | Following release of the March 2023 report, Trump's national security adviser ] revealed that when the Cuban attack reports began, he "pretty quickly" came to believe that this was not in Cuba's interest, and in any case thought it was beyond that nation's capabilities. He assumed Russia was involved, but said that he chose not to brief the president on that belief as he did not think Trump would support that theory due to his prior associations with ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |title=John Bolton chose not to brief Trump on Russia Havana syndrome suspicion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/john-bolton-donald-trump-russia-havana-syndrome |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230313143155/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/john-bolton-donald-trump-russia-havana-syndrome |archive-date=13 March 2023 |date=13 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Upon release of the report, Cuba's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters, "The unfortunate thing is the U.S. government leveraged to derail bilateral relations... and discredit Cuba." Reuters also reported that "Cuba has for years labeled as 'science fiction' the idea that 'Havana Syndrome' resulted from an attack by a foreign agent, and its top scientists in 2021 found no evidence of such allegations."<ref name=Sherwood>{{cite web |last1=Sherwood |first1=Dave |title=Cuba blasts U.S. for years of disregarding evidence on 'Havana Syndrome' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/ |website=Reuters.com |agency=Reuters |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230303214205/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/ |archive-date=3 March 2023 |date=3 March 2023}}</ref> | Upon release of the report, Cuba's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters, "The unfortunate thing is the U.S. government leveraged to derail bilateral relations... and discredit Cuba." Reuters also reported that "Cuba has for years labeled as 'science fiction' the idea that 'Havana Syndrome' resulted from an attack by a foreign agent, and its top scientists in 2021 found no evidence of such allegations."<ref name=Sherwood>{{cite web |last1=Sherwood |first1=Dave |title=Cuba blasts U.S. for years of disregarding evidence on 'Havana Syndrome' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/ |website=Reuters.com |agency=Reuters |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230303214205/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/ |archive-date=3 March 2023 |date=3 March 2023}}</ref> | ||
Despite the report's conclusion, U.S. Senator ], the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement on March 2 rejecting the finding, saying, "Something happened here, and just because you don't have all the answers doesn't mean that it didn't happen." Rubio said his panel would continue an independent review of the claims.<ref |
Despite the report's conclusion, U.S. Senator ], the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement on March 2 rejecting the finding, saying, "Something happened here, and just because you don't have all the answers doesn't mean that it didn't happen." Rubio said his panel would continue an independent review of the claims.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |title=Rubio rejects intelligence finding that 'Havana syndrome' not linked to foreign adversary |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3880776-rubio-rejects-intelligence-finding-that-havana-syndrome-not-linked-to-foreign-adversary/ |work=The Hill |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230304033049/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3880776-rubio-rejects-intelligence-finding-that-havana-syndrome-not-linked-to-foreign-adversary/ |archive-date=4 March 2023 |date=4 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
====International Journal of Social Psychiatry==== | |||
Attorney ], founder of the James Madison Project, who represents some Havana syndrome patients, disputed the report's conclusions. In a March 2023 '']'' interview, he maintained that "these events were perpetrated either by foreign actors, or it is an experiment gone horribly wrong". He suggested that the truth was "buried in the information they've classified".<ref name="KAREM">{{cite web |last1=Karem |first1=Brian |title=Exclusive: Declassified report suggests 'Havana syndrome' could result from energy weapon |url=https://www.salon.com/2023/03/29/exclusive-declassified-report-suggests-havana-syndrome-could-result-from-energy-weapon/ |work=Salon |access-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230330152543/https://www.salon.com/2023/03/29/exclusive-declassified-report-suggests-havana-syndrome-could-result-from-energy-weapon/ |archive-date=30 March 2023 |date=29 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
During 2023, the ] published several articles and commentaries supporting the psychogenic hypothesis, criticizing the energy weapon hypothesis, and questioning whether some earlier Havana Syndrome studies published in ] were inappropriately influenced by politics.<ref name="bart4"/><ref name="field2"/><ref name="val1">Valdes-Sosa M. When politics obstructs self-correction in science. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2024;70(6):1011-1012. doi:10.1177/00207640231207571</ref><ref name="della5">Della Sala S. Politics dictating on science is like a gunshot in a concert. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2024;70(5):839-840. doi:10.1177/00207640231208373</ref> | |||
===2024=== | === 2024 === | ||
In March 2024, the ] published two medical studies evaluating people reporting Havana syndrome symptoms, and found no evidence of brain injury, irregular blood biomarkers, or vocational impairment.<ref name=Barnes/><ref name="CNN3"/> But according to ], chairman of the 2020 NASEM study which had concluded that an energy weapon was involved, these findings do not exclude that a weapon could have injured the government workers, as "the most sophisticated brain scans can miss a subtle brain injury, especially if the brain has had time to heal.<ref name = NPR2024/> | |||
==== ''The Insider'' investigative report ==== | |||
==Legislative responses== | |||
On March{{nbsp}}31, 2024, '']'', in collaboration with '']'' and ''],'' published an investigative report claiming that the syndrome was possibly caused by actions of ].<ref name="Faulconbridge">{{Cite web |last=Faulconbridge |first=Guy |date=2024-04-01 |title=Kremlin dismisses report Russia behind 'Havana Syndrome'|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-dismisses-report-russia-behind-havana-syndrome-2024-04-01/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="www.bbc.com">{{Cite news |title=Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.bbc.com|date=April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luscombe |first=Richard |date=2024-04-01 |title='Havana syndrome' linked to Russian unit, media investigation suggests |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/01/havana-syndrome-linked-to-russian-unit-media-investigation-suggests |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> The report states that members of the ], known for undertaking foreign operations,<ref name="www.bbc.com"/> received awards and promotions for work related to the development and deployment of "]", and that telephone and travel data pinpointing the locations of these agents correlated with the timings and locations of several AHIs worldwide.<ref name="Dobrokhotov">{{Cite web |last1=Dobrokhotov |first1=Roman |last2=Grozev |first2=Christo |last3=Weiss |first3=Michael |date=31 March 2024 |title=Unraveling Havana Syndrome: New evidence links the GRU's assassination Unit 29155 to mysterious attacks on U.S. officials and their families |url=https://theins.ru/en/politics/270425 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Pelley |first=Scott |date=2024-03-31 |title=Havana Syndrome mystery continues as a lead military investigator says bar for proof was set impossibly high - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-culprit-investigation-new-evidence-60-minutes-transcript/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first1=Cornelius |last1=Dieckmann |first2=Roman |last2=Dobrokhotov |first3=Christo |last3=Grozev |first4=Steffen |last4=Lüdke |first5=Alina |last5=Schadwinkel |first6=Fidelius |last6=Schmid |date=31 March 2024 |title=Did Russian agents use microwave weapons against US diplomats |url=https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/havanna-syndrom-setzten-russische-agenten-mikrowellenwaffen-gegen-us-diplomaten-ein-a-1d5d1c2e-ed83-44c8-a446-45bb50f712d5 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=] |language=de}}</ref> | |||
In response to Havana syndrome, senator ] introduced a bill (S. 1828), cosponsored by a bipartisan group of nine other senators, that would close a loophole in the ] that would normally not cover damage to organs such as the brain and heart. | |||
The ] dismissed the report as "nothing more than baseless, unfounded accusations by the media."<ref name="Faulconbridge"/> In response to the report, the ] said that a "foreign adversary is very unlikely."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flaherty |first=Anne |date=2024-04-01 |title=Senior DOD official experienced 'Havana syndrome' symptoms at NATO summit in July, Pentagon says |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senior-dod-official-experienced-havana-syndrome-symptoms-nato/story?id=108714952 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> US Vice Presidential candidate ] ridiculed the report, claiming that the journalists had lost their minds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-01 |title=Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317 |access-date=2024-10-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=J.D. Vance Mocks Report Tying Russia to Havana Syndrome in Bizarre Rant: 'Putler Working with Drumpf… Attacking with Invisible Lasers' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/j-d-vance-mocks-report-tying-russia-to-havana-syndrome-in-bizarre-rant-putler-working-with-drumpf-attacking-with-invisible-lasers/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Mediaite |language=en}}</ref> | |||
The ], passed by Congress in December 2021, included a section directing the president to designate a senior official as "anomalous health incidents interagency coordinator" to oversee efforts across the federal government and to coordinate with the ], required relevant federal agencies to designate a specific high-level "anomalous health incident agency coordination lead" and directed agencies to develop guidance to employees considered to be at risk of exposure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/congress-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2022 |title=Congress Passes National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013330/https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/congress-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2022 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |work=FYI Bulletin |issue=109 |publisher=American Institute of Physics |date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> | |||
==== NIH Clinical Center studies ==== | |||
In April, scientists at the ] published the results of two studies conducted over five years on two groups of federal employees (81 and 86 persons) who experienced anomalous health incidents (AHIs). The studies did not find any brain injuries or persistent physiologic changes, when comparing AHI patients to a control group. One of the researchers noted that many of the patients are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact their recovery from original AHIs.<ref name="NIH-pr">"NIH studies find severe symptoms of “Havana Syndrome,” but no evidence of MRI-detectable brain injury or biological abnormalities" March 18, 2024. News Release from ''NIH'' https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-studies-find-severe-symptoms-havana-syndrome-no-evidence-mri-detectable-brain-injury-or-biological-abnormalities</ref><ref name="JAMA22">{{Cite journal |last1=Pierpaoli |first1=Carlo |last2=Nayak |first2=Amritha |last3=Hafiz |first3=Rakibul |last4=Irfanoglu |first4=M. Okan |last5=Chen |first5=Gang |last6=Taylor |first6=Paul |last7=Hallett |first7=Mark |last8=Hoa |first8=Michael |last9=Pham |first9=Dzung |last10=Chou |first10=Yi-Yu |last11=Moses |first11=Anita D. |last12=van der Merwe |first12=André J. |last13=Lippa |first13=Sara M. |last14=Brewer |first14=Carmen C. |last15=Zalewski |first15=Chris K. |date=2024-04-02 |title=Neuroimaging Findings in US Government Personnel and Their Family Members Involved in Anomalous Health Incidents |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816532?guestAccessKey=585c4d36-d78f-4f5c-90ec-06daf860fb3a |journal=JAMA |volume=331 |issue=13 |pages=1122–1134 |doi=10.1001/jama.2024.2424 |pmid=38497822 |issn=0098-7484 |pmc=10949155}}</ref><ref name="JAMA3">{{Cite journal |last1=Chan |first1=Leighton |last2=Hallett |first2=Mark |last3=Zalewski |first3=Chris K. |last4=Brewer |first4=Carmen C. |last5=Zampieri |first5=Cris |last6=Hoa |first6=Michael |last7=Lippa |first7=Sara M. |last8=Fitzgibbon |first8=Edmond |last9=French |first9=Louis M. |last10=Moses |first10=Anita D. |last11=van der Merwe |first11=André J. |last12=Pierpaoli |first12=Carlo |last13=Turtzo |first13=L. Christine |last14=Yonter |first14=Simge |last15=Shahim |first15=Pashtun |date=2024-04-02 |title=Clinical, Biomarker, and Research Tests Among US Government Personnel and Their Family Members Involved in Anomalous Health Incidents |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816533?guestAccessKey=35666cf7-62e5-46ec-83c9-f041972ebb03 |journal=JAMA |volume=331 |issue=13 |pages=1109–1121 |doi=10.1001/jama.2024.2413 |pmid=38497797 |issn=0098-7484 |pmc=10949151}}</ref><ref name="MedPageToday">{{cite news |title="Havana Syndrome Mystery Continues to Deepen"|date=18 March 2024|last1=George|first1=Judy|publisher=MedPageToday|url=https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/generalneurology/109232 |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref> | |||
The authors of one of the studies concluded that "This ... study ... revealed no significant differences in imaging measures of brain structure or function between individuals reporting AHIs and matched control participants after adjustment for multiple comparisons." Differences between the AHI individuals and the control group were statistically insignificant, after compensating for ]. <ref name="JAMA22"/> | |||
The authors of the other study concluded that "there were no significant differences between individuals reporting AHIs and matched control participants with respect to most clinical, research, and biomarker measures, except for objective and self-reported measures of imbalance and symptoms of fatigue, posttraumatic stress, and depression. This study did not replicate the findings of previous studies ".<ref name="JAMA3"/> | |||
The journal ''Applied Radiology'' summarized the results as finding "no significant evidence of MRI-detectable brain injury, nor differences in most clinical measures compared to controls".<ref name="AR">{{Cite web |title=No MRI-Detectable Brain Injury Found in People With "Havana Syndrome" • APPLIED RADIOLOGY |url=https://appliedradiology.com/Articles/no-mri-detectable-brain-injury-found-in-people-with-havana-syndrome |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=appliedradiology.com}}</ref> | |||
In May 2024, a former CIA employee, who reported AHI symptoms and is now an advocate for other AHI patients, claimed that the CIA required him to participate in the NIH study as a prerequisite to obtaining medical care for his AHI symptoms. The CIA denied the allegation. The NIH investigated the claim, and discovered no coercion on the part of NIH personnel. Since the participant perceived he was coerced by the CIA, the NIH terminated the AHI studies in September 2024, to avoid the appearance of possible violation of medical ethics guidelines. <ref name="NIHchs">"NIH cancels ‘Havana syndrome’ research, citing unethical coercion of participants" Jen Christensen September 1, 2024 ''CNN'' https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/30/health/nih-havana-syndrome-study/index.htmlrome</ref><ref name="NIHtisma">" ‘There is so much anger’: Havana syndrome victims frustrated CIA isn’t blaming Russia for symptoms" Katie Bo Lillis and Jen Christensen May 1, 2024 ''CNN'' https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/01/politics/havana-syndrome-victims-cia-russia/index.html</ref> | |||
==Government response== | |||
In March 2021, the State Department appointed ambassador ], a career foreign service officer, to oversee the department ] charged with responding to the incidents.<ref name="Bo Williams"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hansler|first=Jennifer|date=March 12, 2021|title=State Department names senior official to lead response to mysterious 'Havana syndrome' attacks|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/politics/state-department-havana-syndrome-coordinator/index.html|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170734/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/politics/state-department-havana-syndrome-coordinator/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Six months later, Spratlen left her position as coordinator of the task force because she "reached the threshold of hours of labor" that she could perform as a retiree. Her resignation had been demanded by people angered by her handling of a conference call with affected employees. During the call with employees (in which Secretary of State ] also took part), Spratlen did not take a position on whether the syndrome was psychogenic, a response that affected diplomats called "invalidating".<ref name="Hudson"/><ref name="Out6">{{Cite web|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Breslauer|first2=Brenda|date=September 22, 2021|title=Diplomat overseeing 'Havana Syndrome' response is out after 6 months|publisher=]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/diplomat-overseeing-havana-syndrome-response-out-after-6-months-n1279906|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014015311/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/diplomat-overseeing-havana-syndrome-response-out-after-6-months-n1279906|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The ], passed by Congress in December 2021, included a section directing the president to designate a senior official as "anomalous health incidents interagency coordinator" to oversee efforts across the federal government and to coordinate with the ], required relevant federal agencies to designate a specific high-level "anomalous health incident agency coordination lead" and directed agencies to develop guidance to employees considered to be at risk of exposure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/congress-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2022 |title=Congress Passes National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221013330/https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/congress-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2022 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |work=FYI Bulletin |issue=109 |publisher=American Institute of Physics |date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> | |||
===Financial compensation=== | ===Financial compensation=== | ||
In response to Havana syndrome, United States Senator ] introduced a bill (S. 1828), cosponsored by a bipartisan group of nine other senators, that would close a loophole in the ] that would normally not cover damage to organs such as the brain and heart. | |||
In 2021, Congress passed the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act, ] the CIA director and the secretary of state to provide financial support for personnel with brain injuries. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by president ] on October 8, 2021, becoming Public Law No. 117-46.<ref name="Collins Bill">{{Cite web|date=May 25, 2021|title=S.1828 - HAVANA Act of 2021|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1828/text?r=3&s=1|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625134327/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1828/text?r=3&s=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NBC Collins Bill">{{Cite news|last1=Martinez|first1=Didi|last2=Breslauer|first2=Brenda|last3=Lederman|first3=Josh|date=December 8, 2020|title=10 senators propose new bill to help victims of 'Havana Syndrome'|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/10-senators-propose-new-bill-help-victims-havana-syndrome-n1250440|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625134326/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/10-senators-propose-new-bill-help-victims-havana-syndrome-n1250440|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BarnesOct8>{{cite news |first1=Julian E. |last1=Barnes |first2=David E. |last2=Sanger |first3=Katie |last3=Rogers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/us/politics/havana-syndrome-biden-law.html |title=Biden Signs Legislation to Compensate Victims of Mysterious 'Havana Syndrome' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018154415/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/us/politics/havana-syndrome-biden-law.html |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> | |||
The HAVANA Act gives an untaxed lump-sum payment of up to one year's full salary ($187,300 for higher-ranking employees) to government employees that provide evidence of neurological injury. The payment is in addition to workers compensation or disability payments.<ref> |
In 2021, Congress passed the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act, ] the CIA director and the secretary of state to provide financial support for personnel with brain injuries. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by president ] on October 8, 2021, becoming Public Law No. 117-46.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 25, 2021|title=S.1828 - HAVANA Act of 2021|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1828/text?r=3&s=1|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625134327/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1828/text?r=3&s=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Martinez|first1=Didi|last2=Breslauer|first2=Brenda|last3=Lederman|first3=Josh|date=December 8, 2020|title=10 senators propose new bill to help victims of 'Havana Syndrome'|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/10-senators-propose-new-bill-help-victims-havana-syndrome-n1250440|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625134326/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/10-senators-propose-new-bill-help-victims-havana-syndrome-n1250440|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Julian E. |last1=Barnes |first2=David E. |last2=Sanger |first3=Katie |last3=Rogers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/us/politics/havana-syndrome-biden-law.html |title=Biden Signs Legislation to Compensate Victims of Mysterious 'Havana Syndrome' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018154415/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/us/politics/havana-syndrome-biden-law.html |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> The law gives an untaxed lump-sum payment of up to one year's full salary ($187,300 for higher-ranking employees) to government employees that provide evidence of neurological injury. The payment is in addition to ] or disability payments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Julian E. |date=2022-08-24 |title=C.I.A. Begins Compensating Victims of Havana Syndrome |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/us/politics/havana-syndrome-compensation.html |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Strobel |first=Warren P. |title=Some Havana Syndrome Victims to Draw Six-Figure U.S. Payments |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-havana-syndrome-victims-to-draw-six-figure-u-s-payments-11656021469 |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HAVANA Act - Authorized Payment Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.commerce.gov/havana-act-authorized-payment-frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=U.S. Department of Commerce |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Animal experimentation== | ===Animal experimentation=== | ||
In March 2023, ''Politico'' reported that the ] funded a $750,000 grant to ] for a study to expose 48 ferrets to RF waves, comparing the effects to a control group of ferrets; the Department of Defense described the project as an attempt to "develop and test a novel laboratory animal model to mimic mild concussive head injury" similar to those reported by the embassy personnel in Havana and China.<ref name |
In March 2023, ''Politico'' reported that the ] funded a $750,000 grant to ] for a study to expose 48 ferrets to RF waves, comparing the effects to those from a ] of ferrets; the Department of Defense described the project as an attempt to "develop and test a novel laboratory animal model to mimic mild concussive head injury" similar to those reported by the embassy personnel in Havana and China.<ref name="Seligman 2023-03-09">{{cite web |last1=Seligman |first1=Lara |title=The Pentagon is funding experiments on animals to recreate 'Havana Syndrome' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/09/pentagon-funding-experiments-animals-havana-syndrome-00086393 |work=Politico |access-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230318000558/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/09/pentagon-funding-experiments-animals-havana-syndrome-00086393 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |date=9 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Politico'' also reported that the U.S. Department of Defense had recently tested RF waves on primates.<ref name="Seligman 2023-03-09"/> The ] group ] demanded that the Pentagon end live-animal testing in relation to Havana syndrome.<ref name="Seligman 2023-03-09"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Best |first1=Paul |title=PETA asks Pentagon to cease animal testing related to 'Havana syndrome' |date=March 13, 2023 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/peta-asks-pentagon-cease-animal-testing-related-havana-syndrome |work=Fox News |access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiśniewska |first=Maggie |date=13 March 2023 |title=Letter from PETA to the Honorable Christine Wormuth |url=https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-13-letter-to-secdef-and-secarmy-re-havana-syndrome-animal-tests.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313130757/https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-13-letter-to-secdef-and-secarmy-re-havana-syndrome-animal-tests.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=PETA |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> | ||
=== Medical care === | |||
The ] (GAO) issued a report in July 2024 that surveyed the DOD's actions in providing medical care to AHI patients. The GAO interviewed 65 of the 334 persons that qualified for health care provided by the DOD. Based on the interviews, the GAO found that the AHI patients were often confused by the process to obtain care. The GAO made several recommendations to the DOD, with the goal of streamlining the process and improving communications. The DOD said it is working on implementing the recommendations, but does not yet have concrete dates when they will be implemented.<ref>"'Havana Syndrome' Sufferers Face Challenges Navigating the Military Health System, Federal Watchdog Finds", Patricia Kime, July 30, 2024 ''Military.com'' https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/07/30/havana-syndrome-sufferers-face-challenges-navigating-military-health-system-federal-watchdog-finds.html</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=U. S. Government Accountability Office |author-link=US Government Accountability Office |date=2024-07-29 |title=Havana Syndrome: Better Patient Communication and Monitoring of Key DOD Tasks Needed to Better Ensure Timely Treatment {{!}} U.S. GAO |url=https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106593 |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.gao.gov |language=en}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
{{columns-list|colwidth=28em| | |||
* ] (hypothetical sonic weapon) | * ] (hypothetical sonic weapon) | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ], a late-19th to early-20th century name for a form of tropic fever | * ], a late-19th to early-20th century name for a form of tropic fever | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
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* ] | * ] | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{commons}} | {{commons}} | ||
* at '']'' (8 April 2023) | * at '']'' (8 April 2023) | ||
* ]: on Apple Podcasts and | * ]: on Apple Podcasts and | ||
{{Canada–China relations}} | {{Canada–China relations}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 04:05, 26 December 2024
Symptoms reported by US officials abroad
Medical condition
Havana syndrome | |
---|---|
Other names | Anomalous health incidents Unexplained health incidents Unexplained health incidents Unidentified health incidents |
The Hotel Nacional in Havana is one of the locations where the syndrome has reportedly been experienced. | |
Causes | Not determined |
Named after | Havana (Capital City of Cuba) |
Havana syndrome, also known as Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), is a disputed medical condition. It is not officially recognized as a disease by the medical community. Starting in 2016, U.S. and Canadian government officials and their families reported symptoms of AHIs in overseas locations including Cuba, China, India, Vienna, Hanoi, Berlin, London, and Taiwan. Symptoms were also reported in the US, in Washington, D.C. Reported symptoms include a sudden onset associated with a perceived localized loud sound, followed by chronic symptoms that lasted for months, such as balance, dizziness, cognitive problems, insomnia, and headaches.
A number of government and non-government agencies have conducted investigations into the AHIs, including the State Department (2018), University of Pennsylvania (2018), FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (2018), JASON (2018 and 2022), Centers for Disease Control (2019), Department of Defense (2020), CIA (2020), NASEM (2020), Cuban Academy of Sciences (2021), seven intelligence agencies under the auspices of the ODNI (2023), and NIH (2024). Several news organizations also conducted investigations.
None of the investigations has been able to determine the cause with certainty. Possible causes considered by investigators included toxic chemicals, infectious diseases, energy weapons, and psychological/social causes. Investigators determined that toxic chemicals & infectious diseases were unlikely to be causes.
The most recent and thorough investigations determined that foreign adversaries are unlikely to be the source of AHIs. The use of energy weapons was determined to be consistent with the reported AHI symptoms, but no direct causal relation has been established, partially because there is little experimental research on the impact of energy weapons on the human brain. Recent medical research has not found statistically significant evidence of brain injuries in AHI patients.
Some investigations stated that it is difficult to prove or disprove if psychological/social factors are responsible for AHI symptoms, but some researchers stated that psychological/social factors are a potential cause; and, if there is another primary cause for some symptoms, that psychological/social factors may be a secondary, contributing cause.
The U.S. government has established a variety of programs providing medical and financial support to persons that reported AHI symptoms, but some AHI patients continue to campaign for additional support.
Syndrome
Havana syndrome is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, pain, and cognitive problems. It is not a recognized medical diagnosis, and it is not recognized as a disease by the medical community.
Signs and symptoms
Most of the affected individuals reported an acute onset of neurological symptoms associated with a perceived localized loud sound such as screeching, chirping, clicking, or piercing noises. Two-thirds experienced visual disturbances such as blurred vision and sensitivity to light. More than half reported intense pressure or vibration in the head, ear pain, diffuse head pain, and cognitive problems such as forgetfulness and poor concentration. Tinnitus and hearing loss occurred in one-third of cases, and dizziness or unsteady gait affected one-quarter.
Some affected individuals develop chronic symptoms that last for months, such as balance and cognitive problems, insomnia, and headaches. The longevity of symptoms is not yet clear, and they are less specific than are the acute symptoms.
Causes
A 2024 review article by Connolly et al, surveying multiple peer-reviewed studies, concluded that the cause of AHIs is still unknown. The review discussed several possible causes, including mass psychogenic illness and head trauma, but did not endorse a specific cause.
A 2023 review article written by Bartholomew and Baloh concluded that the AHIs are an example of mass psychogenic illness, rooted in a moral panic based on the fear of the Russians or Cubans attacking the U.S.. The authors stated that Havana Syndrome is "a socially constructed catch-all category for an array of pre-existing health conditions, responses to environmental factors, and stress reactions that were lumped under a single label".
An earlier review article written in 2022 by Asadi-Pooya considered several possible causes for the condition. It stated that a plausible explanation was the use of a directed-energy or radio frequency weapon, with other possible causes including functional disorders, psychogenic disease, or exposure to chemicals/neurotoxins. The authors cautioned that all studies included in their review were limited by small sample sizes, and that the underlying cause remains unidentified.
Number of people
The U.S. government has not released the number of persons reporting AHIs, but media reporting indicated a total of 26 people around 2017, 40 in 2019 (U.S. and Canadian), 130 people in May 2021, more than 200 by September 2021, and more than 1,000 by early 2022. The cases affected CIA, U.S. military, and State Department personnel and their family members. Some reports, after investigation, were determined to have ordinary explanations, and thus unrelated to Havana Syndrome.
In July 2024, a report from the GAO stated that 334 persons had completed the process to qualify for care in the military health system, but that number does not include persons that did not apply for such treatment.
Locations
People have reported experiencing AHIs in about a dozen countries, and in a variety of circumstances, including in hotels, at home, in embassies, and while in vehicles.
Cuba
In August 2017, reports began surfacing that American and Canadian diplomatic personnel in Cuba had experienced unusual, unexplained health problems dating to late 2016. As of June 2018, the number of American citizens experiencing symptoms was 26.
Events
The original 21 events in Cuba were characterized as starting with strange grating noises coming from a specific direction. Some people experienced pressure, vibration, or a sensation comparable to driving a car with the window partly rolled down. These noises lasted from 20 seconds to 30 minutes and happened while the diplomats were either at home or in hotel rooms. Other people nearby (including family members and guests in neighboring rooms) did not experience the same symptoms.
Impact on American diplomats
Some U.S. embassy workers have experienced lasting health problems, including an unidentified diplomat who now needs a hearing aid. In 2017, the U.S. State Department concluded that the health problems were either the result of an attack or due to exposure to an unknown device, but that it was not blaming the Cuban government, and would not say who was to blame. Affected people 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 August 2017, the United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in retaliation for perceived Cuban responsibility. The next month, the U.S. State Department stated that it was removing non-essential staff from the U.S. embassy and warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Cuba. In October 2017, President Donald Trump said he believed that Cuba was responsible for the occurrences, calling them a "very unusual attack".
In response to the incidents, the U.S. State Department announced in March 2018 that 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 2017, but the status was set to expire. This announcement served to extend the staff reductions indefinitely.
Impact on Canadian diplomats
In March 2018, some Canadian diplomats traveled to Pittsburgh to consult with the neurologist that had previously diagnosed brain issues in US diplomats. The neurologist concluded that MRIs of the Canadians showed evidence of brain damage that was similar to what the neurologist reported for the American counterparts. In early 2018, Global Affairs Canada ended family postings to Cuba and withdrew all staff with families. Several of the Canadians who were affected in 2017 were reported to still be unable to resume their work due to the severity of their ailments. The lack of knowledge of the cause of Havana syndrome, as of February 2019, had made it challenging for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate.
In 2019, the Canadian government announced that it was reducing its embassy staff in Havana after a 14th Canadian diplomat reported symptoms of Havana syndrome in late December 2018. In February 2019, several Canadian diplomats sued the Canadian government, arguing that it failed to protect them or promptly address serious health concerns. The government has sought to dismiss the suit, arguing in November 2019 that it was not negligent and did not breach its duties to its employees. In court filings, the government acknowledged that several of the 14 plaintiffs in the suit had concussion-like symptoms but said that no definitive cause or medical diagnosis had been ascertained. In a November 2019 statement, Global Affairs Canada said, "We continue to investigate the potential causes of the unusual health symptoms."
Cuban government reactions
After the incident was made public, the Cuban foreign minister accused the U.S. of lying about the incident and denied Cuban involvement in or knowledge of the cause of the health problems the diplomats experienced.
The Cuban government offered to cooperate with the U.S. in an investigation of the incidents. It employed about 2,000 scientists and law enforcement officers who interviewed 300 neighbors of diplomats, examined two hotels, and medically examined non-diplomats who could have been exposed. NBC reported that Cuban officials stated that they analyzed air and soil samples and considered a range of toxic chemicals. They also examined the possibility that electromagnetic waves were to blame, and even looked into whether insects could be the culprit, but found nothing they could link to the claimed medical symptoms. The FBI and Cuban authorities met to discuss the situation; the Cubans stated that the U.S. neither agreed to share the diplomats' medical records with Cuban authorities nor allowed Cuban investigators access to U.S. diplomats' homes to conduct tests.
In 2021, a panel of scientists affiliated with the Cuban Academy of Sciences and convened by the Cuban government reported that "the narrative of the 'mysterious syndrome' is not scientifically acceptable in any of its components." The panel addressed the microwave hypothesis directly, writing, "No known form of energy can selectively cause brain damage (with laser-like spatial accuracy) under the conditions described for the alleged incidents in Havana."
After release of the March 2023 U.S. intelligence agencies' report which concluded that "available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely", Cuba's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters, "The unfortunate thing is the U.S. government leveraged to derail bilateral relations ... and discredit Cuba." The Reuters article reported that "Cuba has for years labeled as 'science fiction' the idea that 'Havana Syndrome' resulted from an attack by a foreign agent, and its top scientists in 2021 found no evidence of such allegations."
Beyond Cuba
Beginning in late 2017, suspected attacks targeting U.S. intelligence personnel were reported in an expanding set of locations around the world, including Moscow, Russia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Poland; Taiwan; and Australia. Other reports came from Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria, among other countries.
China
Starting in early 2018, U.S. diplomats in China began reporting symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome. The first such incident was reported by an American diplomat in China in April 2018 at the Guangzhou consulate, the largest U.S. consulate in China. The employee reported that he had been experiencing symptoms since late 2017. Several individuals were taken to the U.S. for medical examination. A USAID employee at the U.S. embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, reported a different incident in September 2017; the employee's report was discounted by the U.S. State Department.
Answering questions from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in May 2018, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testified that U.S. diplomatic staff in Guangzhou had reported symptoms "very similar" to, and "entirely consistent" with, those reported from Cuba. On June 6, 2018, The New York Times reported that at least two additional U.S. diplomats stationed at the Guangzhou consulate had been evacuated from China and reported that "it remains unclear whether the illnesses are the result of attacks at all. Other theories have included toxins, listening devices that accidentally emitted harmful sounds, or even mass hysteria." In June 2018, the State Department announced that a task force had been assembled to investigate the reports and expanded their health warning to all of mainland China amid reports some US diplomats outside of Guangzhou had experienced the same symptoms resembling a brain injury. The warning told anyone who experienced "unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena accompanied by unusual sounds or piercing noises" to "not attempt to locate their source".
Elsewhere in Asia
In August 2021, it was reported that two American diplomats were evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, after incidents of Havana syndrome were reported. These reported cases also delayed Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to Vietnam.
In September 2021, an aide-de-camp of CIA director William J. Burns reported symptoms consistent with those of Havana syndrome on a diplomatic visit to India.
Washington, D.C. area
In 2019, a White House official reported experiencing debilitating symptoms while walking her dog in a Virginia suburb of Washington; the incident was publicly reported in 2020. In November 2020, a similar incident was reported on The Ellipse, a lawn adjacent to the south side of the White House. Both incidents were similar to those that were reported to have struck dozens of U.S. personnel overseas, including CIA and State Department personnel. Federal agencies investigated the incident at The Ellipse, and Defense Department officials briefed members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee in April 2021. Investigators told members of Congress that they had not been able to determine the cause of the events or who was responsible.
Europe
In 2021, dozens of U.S. personnel stationed in Vienna, including diplomats, intelligence officials, and some children of U.S. employees, had Havana syndrome-like symptoms. The State Department confirmed in July 2021 that it was investigating the reports. The Austrian foreign ministry stated it was collaborating with American investigators. Aside from Havana, Vienna has reported the most incidents. In September 2021, the CIA station chief in Vienna (the top U.S. intelligence officer in the country) was recalled over concerns over his management; he had been criticized for not taking quicker action in response to the Havana syndrome cases at his post.
In the months preceding August 2021, cases of Havana syndrome were reported at the U.S. embassy in Berlin, Germany, including from two U.S. officials who sought medical treatment. Several new cases were reported at the embassy in October 2021.
In 2021, the CIA evacuated an intelligence officer serving in Serbia suspected of being a victim of the neurological attack.
Three White House staffers reported symptoms at the InterContinental London Park Lane in late May 2019.
Elsewhere
One of the CIA officials with symptoms in Australia and Taiwan was one of the agency's top five officials. The Russian embassy in Australia dismissed reports of Russian operatives targeting CIA personnel in Australia.
In October 2021, it was reported that U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Bogota, Colombia, had developed symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome.
Chronology of investigation
2018
Developments
In January 2018, at Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's direction, the State Department convened an accountability review board, which is "an internal State Department mechanism to review security incidents involving diplomatic personnel". Retired United States Ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde was chosen to lead the board.
In March 2018, Kevin Fu and a team of computer scientists at the University of Michigan reported in a study that ultrasound—specifically, intermodulation distortion from multiple inaudible ultrasonic signals—from malfunctioning or improperly placed Cuban surveillance equipment could have been the origin of the reported sounds.
FBI investigations
In 2018, the FBI produced two reports on AHIs. The first, internally released in January, was a non-public report by the FBI's Operational Technology Division which found no evidence of a sonic attack or involvement of foreign adversaries.
A second FBI investigation in 2018 was conducted by the Behavioral Analysis Unit, which visited Havana and came to the assessment that the individuals were experiencing a mass psychogenic illness. The investigators did not speak to any of the affected people directly, instead relying on prior interviews other FBI investigators conducted with persons that reported AHIs. According to The New Yorker, the unit also reviewed the patient histories compiled by the patients' neuropsychologists and other physicians, who had already ruled out mass psychogenic illness as a cause.
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, even to other U.S. government agencies, the identities of affected officers because of concern about possible leaks. Federal rules on the privacy of employee medical records also hindered the investigation.
University of Pennsylvania study
At the U.S. government's request, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) researchers examined 21 affected diplomats posted to Cuba, and the preliminary results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in March 2018. The researchers found "no evidence of white matter tract abnormalities" in affected diplomats beyond what might be seen in a control group of the same age, but described "a new syndrome in the diplomats that resembles persistent concussion". While some of those affected recovered swiftly, others had symptoms for months. The study concluded that "the diplomats appear to have sustained injury to widespread brain networks."
In September 2018, Douglas H. Smith, the lead author of the UPenn study, said in an interview that microwaves were "considered a main suspect" underlying the phenomenon. A 2018 study by Beatrice Alexandra Golomb determined that the symptoms and circumstances of AHIs were consistent with pulsed RF/MW radiation.
Criticism of University of Pennsylvania study
The same issue of JAMA that contained the UPenn study also contained an editorial criticizing the UPenn study. The editorial criticized the lack of a control group, lack of baseline evaluations, and lack of experimental blinding. The editorial expressed concern that many of the measurements were based on patient self-reports or involved subjective interpretations. The editorial said that the UPenn study's conclusion (that the subjects suffered brain injuries) was flawed, because there were other (non-injury) explanations that were consistent with the symptoms, such as functional disorders, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness, or psychogenic causes.
The UPenn study was criticized again in JAMA, in August 2018, by several physicians and scientists who asserted that the study overlooked many other possible causes of the AHIs.
The UPenn study was also criticized in late 2018 by the neuroscience journal Cortex. The journal's editorial board, led by Sergio Della Sala, published an letter stating that the study had "gross methodological flaws" and asking the authors of the study to clarify their methods or retract the study. In the board's view, "Allowing such confused and conflicting explanations of methodology and analysis to pass unchallenged is a slippery path for science, and dangerous for society at large".
In late 2018, some scientists, including physicist Peter Zimmerman, bioengineers Kenneth R. Foster, and Andrei G. Pakhomov, and UCLA neurologist Robert Baloh, said that the microwave hypothesis was implausible; Baloh described the conclusions of the UPenn study as "science fiction".
In 2024, scientists with the NIH published a study of 86 AHI patients in which they were unable to replicate the UPenn results.
2018 JASON report
In 2018, JASON, a group of physicists and scientists who advise the U.S. government, analyzed audio recordings from eight of the original 21 incidents of Havana syndrome and two cellphone videos taken by one patient from Cuba. The report's findings were first reported in July 2019. Parts of JASON's report were declassified in September 2021.
The report concluded that the sounds in the audio recordings were "most likely" caused by insects and that it was "highly unlikely" that microwaves or ultrasound beams were involved, because "No plausible single source of energy (neither radio/microwaves nor sonic) can produce both the recorded audio/video signals and the reported medical effects." The group determined with "high confidence" that two audio sources were sounds from the Indies short-tailed cricket. The report stated "It cannot be ruled out that while the perceived sounds, while not harmful, are introduced by an adversary as deception so as to mask an entirely unrelated mode of causing illness." The report also concluded that while the cause of the condition was unknown, "psychogenic effects may serve to explain important components of the reported injuries".
2019
Analysis of insect noises
In January 2019, biologists Alexander L. Stubbs of the University of California, Berkeley and Fernando Montealegre-Z of the University of Lincoln analyzed audio recordings made by American personnel in Havana during incidents associated with Havana syndrome. The conclusion was that the sounds were the calling song of the Indies short-tailed cricket (Anurogryllus celerinictus) rather than those of a technological device. Stubbs and Montealegre-Z matched the song's "pulse repetition rate, power spectrum, pulse rate stability, and oscillations per pulse" to the recording. Stubbs and Montealegre wrote, "the causes of the health problems reported by embassy personnel are beyond the scope of this paper" and called for "more rigorous research into the source of these ailments, including the potential psychogenic effects, as well as possible physiological explanations unrelated to sonic attacks." This conclusion was comparable to a 2017 hypothesis by Cuban scientists that the sound on the same recording is that of Jamaican field crickets.
Psychogenic cause proposed
In a 2019 paper, Robert Bartholomew and Robert Baloh proposed that the syndrome represents mass psychogenic illness rather than a "novel clinical entity". They cite the vagueness and inconsistency of symptoms as well as the circumstances they developed in (affected staff would have been under significant stress as the U.S. had just reopened its embassy in Cuba) as a cause. The scientists assert that the Havana Syndrome is an example of the nocebo effect — where the fear of an anticipated harmful event (e.g. an energy weapon attack) causes symptoms. The scientists noted that, even when AHIs are psychogenic in nature, the symptoms experienced by the patients can be authentic.
CDC report
In late 2017, the US Congress asked the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to investigate the syndrome. In response, the CDC studied the medical histories of 95 diplomats and family members that reported symptoms. The report, published in December 2019, was given to Congress and to the executive branch, but not released to the public. The report concluded "The evaluations conducted thus far have not identified a mechanism of injury, process of exposure, effective treatment, or mitigating factor for the unexplained cluster of symptoms experienced by those stationed in Havana." The report noted that 15 of the 95 persons reported similar symptoms, which occurred in two phases. Inconsistencies in the medical records, as well as long times between symptoms and medical tests, impaired the CDC's ability to draw clear conclusions from the medical data. The CDC decided not to conduct a retrospective case–control study because of the length of time between the event and the onset of symptoms, which could lead to recall and selection biases that "could generate misleading or obscured findings".
In December 2020, Buzzfeed news noticed that the NASEM report mentioned the CDC report, and so they made a FOIA request, and obtained the CDC report. In January 2021, Buzzfeed published the CDC report. Buzzfeed quoted neurologist Robert Baloh as saying "Essentially the CDC is saying that they have no idea what happened in Cuba."
2020
Developments
In October 2020, the New York Times reported that U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers, including senior leaders, had clashed with Trump administration appointees, including CIA director Gina Haspel and State Department leaders, over the nature and causes of the suspected attacks. A New York Times investigation found that the State Department had "produced inconsistent assessments of patients and events, ignored outside medical diagnoses and withheld basic information from Congress". Despite the general view within the U.S. government that Russia was responsible, two U.S. officials told The New York Times that Haspel was not convinced of Russia's responsibility, or even whether an attack occurred.
Many current and former U.S. officials stated that Russia was likely responsible for the alleged attacks, a suspicion shared by both Trump and Biden administration officials. This view was shared by CIA analysts on Russia, State Department officials, outside science experts, and several of the alleged victims. Russia has a history of researching, developing, and using weapons that cause brain injuries, such as the Cold War-era "Moscow Signal" targeting the American embassy in Moscow.
In 2020 it was reported that a 2014 NSA report raised suspicions that Russia used a microwave weapon to target a person's living quarters, causing nervous system damage; and Russia has an interest in disrupting cooperation among the U.S., China, and Cuba. The U.S. diplomats stationed in China and Cuba who reported ailments were working to increase cooperation with those countries, and some CIA analysts voiced suspicion Russia thus sought to derail their work.
A U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigation resulted in an April 2020 determination that there was "a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing" by State Department leadership. Mark Lenzi, who was a State Department diplomatic security officer stationed in Guangzhou, accused the department of a "deliberate, high-level cover-up" and of failing to protect their employees. Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year CIA veteran, who retired in 2019, similarly felt betrayed by CIA leadership, accusing the agency of failing to respond appropriately to a vertigo-inducing incident in Moscow in December 2017 (Polymeropoulos said the event was an attack and "the most terrifying experience of my life", worse than experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan). Polymeropoulos fought with the CIA for years to obtain specialized medical treatment, after the agency cast doubt on the similarities between the symptoms he experienced and those experienced by the diplomats in Havana. Polymeropoulos was ultimately diagnosed at the U.S. government's Walter Reed Medical Center with traumatic brain injury.
Near the end of the Trump administration, the Defense Department established a task force to investigate reports of attacks on DoD personnel abroad. The DoD established the task force partly due to frustration over what DoD officials considered to be a sluggish and lackluster response by the CIA and Department of State. Christopher C. Miller, who was acting defense secretary at the time, said in 2021 that "I knew CIA and Department of State were not taking this shit seriously and we wanted to shame them into it by establishing our task force." Miller said that he began to consider the reports of mysterious symptoms to be a high priority in December 2020, after he conducted an interview with a person with major combat experience who detailed symptoms.
In December 2020, the CIA established a task force to investigate. The agency set up the task force after continued reports of debilitating attacks against CIA officers in various places around the world. The CIA expanded its investigation under Director William J. Burns, who took office in 2021; Burns appointed a senior CIA officer who had previously led the manhunt for Osama bin Laden to lead the agency's investigation.
In 2020, a book by Bartholomew and Baloh, Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria, was published; it argued in support of the psychogenic illness hypothesis.
NASEM report
The State Department commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to study Havana Syndrome. The committee met throughout 2020 and released their report in December 2020. The committee noted that lack of information and direct evidence (such as medical testing data about affected persons) limited what it could conclude about the phenomenon, and that "each possible cause remains speculative" and that "the report should not be viewed as conclusive". The committee considered four causes: directed Radio Frequency (RF) energy, toxic chemicals, infectious diseases, and psychological issues. The committee deemed the RF pulses as the most plausible, with psychological causes as a secondary contributing factor. The committee considered toxic chemicals and infectious diseases as unlikely causes.
The committed found that many of the AHI symptoms were consistent with exposure to directed RF energy. The committee outlined additional research that needs to be conducted before concrete conclusions can be reached.
The NASEM study found that it was unlikely that the symptoms were caused by toxic chemicals, such as insecticides or pesticides, due to a lack of evidence of exposures to those pesticides or clinical histories consistent with such exposure. NASEM also found it highly unlikely that an infectious disease (such as Zika virus, which was an epidemic in Cuba in 2016–17) caused the illnesses.
The NASEM analysis considered pyschogenic, social, and psychological causes for the symptoms, but was not able to draw a conclusion that these were likely or unlikely causes of most of the symptoms. The study stated that psychological causes were unlikely to be the cause of the acute and chronic auditory and vestibular symttoms that were reported by some patients.
In October 2021, Cheryl Rofer, a former chemist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, said that there were no microwave experts on the NASEM committee and that "No evidence has been offered that such a weapon has been developed by any nation." Rofer also cited a 1978 study that found no adverse health effects from the Moscow Signal.
2021
Developments
Citing unnamed intelligence and government officials, The New York Times reported in July 2021 that the National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency, and Director of National Intelligence established two outside panels, one to investigate possible causes and the other to develop defensive countermeasures for personnel protection; cleared external scientists would be permitted to view relevant classified intelligence in their investigations.
In September 2021, it was reported that within the U.S. government, analysts had debated whether the alleged attacks reflected a deliberate attempt to cause injury, or whether the reported symptoms were "a consequence of a high-tech attempt to steal classified information from phones and computers of U.S. officials". Also in September, CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen said that the investigation had "gotten closer" to making a determination, "but not close enough to make the analytic judgment that people are waiting for". Also in September, it was reported that multiple anecdotes from various Western diplomats stationed overseas, including in Russia, describe mysterious ailments during past decades that might be due to microwave devices.
In October 2021, it was reported that an unclassified NSA report from 2014 indicated a hostile country in the 1990s possessed a "high powered microwave system weapon that may have the ability to weaken, intimidate or kill an enemy over time and without leaving evidence".
In November 2021, Secretary of State Blinken appointed two senior U.S. diplomats to oversee the department's internal Health Incident Response Task Force: career foreign service officer Ambassador Jonathan M. Moore as overall coordinator and retired Ambassador Margaret Uyehara.
The Senate Intelligence Committee leadership (chair Mark Warner and vice chair Marco Rubio) said in 2021 that it was working with Burns and the CIA on connection with the investigation, saying, "We have already held fact finding hearings on these debilitating attacks, many of which result in medically confirmed cases of Traumatic Brain Injury, and will do more."
After the reports of the incident at The Ellipse nearby the White House in Washington, Defense Department investigators briefed members of Congress, even though it occurred within the U.S.; this was because the DoD investigation was more advanced than the FBI or the intelligence community investigations.
U.S. State Department
In February, the U.S. State Department said that its ongoing investigation was "a high priority" for the department. Also in February, sources familiar with the various ongoing investigations told CNN that a primary obstacle to progress by the U.S. government in investigating the syndrome was a lack of coordination among the CIA, FBI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State Department, which conducted separate and "largely siloed" investigations. The limited coordination among the agencies was due in part to "the highly classified nature of some details and the privacy restrictions of health records, and that has hampered progress".
Media reports
In May 2021, the The New Yorker reported that some unnamed officials in the government believe that GRU agents have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials, to obtain information from phones and computers, and that the radiation may be harmful. The article also quoted a government official who interviewed several overseas workers that reported episodes of pain or dizziness when near GRU locations. According to two unnamed officials interviewed by Politico, "While investigators have not determined definitively that these incidents are caused by a specific weapon, some believe any such device would be primarily transported by vehicle", and "Some could be small enough to fit into a large backpack, and an individual can be targeted from 500 to 1,000 yards away." An article in The Guardian interviewed experts regarding the feasibility of AHIs being caused by microwave weapons, and some of the experts stated that it was plausible, but others stated it was not plausible.
Cuban Academy of Sciences
In September 2021, the Cuban Academy of Sciences released a report prepared by 21 scientists and academics. The report determined that prior analyses by United States scientists were biased and relied on evidence that was cherry-picked to support the narrative of attacks by a foreign adversary. The Cuban scientists stated that alternative explanations, including psychogenic causes, were suppressed in the US investigations. The Cuban report concluded that there is no weapon that can inflict the kinds of ailments reported, and that the most likely explanation of the syndrome was mass psychogenic illness, perhaps combined with prior existing medical conditions.
2022
Secretary Blinken virtually meets with State Department employees affected by Anomalous Health Incidents, March 16, 2022Developments
In February 2022, the Director of National Intelligence released a summary of a report written by a panel of scientists. Regarding AHI patients that reported four particular "core" symptoms, the report determined that pulsed electromagnetic energy and ultrasound were plausible causes for those cases. The report stated that psychogenic factors could explain the other instances of AHI (that did not involve all four symptoms).
In late 2022 the US Defense Health Agency issued Form 244, Anomalous Health Incident (AHI) Acute Assessment, described as "a multi-domain assessment that should be used to evaluate patients for potential AHI".
In October 2022, CNN reported that some three dozen CIA officers had accused the agency of dragging its feet in the investigation, including some who had filed formal whistleblower complaints.
CIA Report
In January 2022, the Central Intelligence Agency issued an interim report that summarized an ongoing study of roughly 1,000 reported cases of AHI. The study concluded that it was unlikely that a foreign power was responsible for the AHIs, and that the study had not yet found evidence of involvement by a state actor. The report said that most of the reviewed cases could be explained by natural causes such as environmental causes, undiagnosed medical conditions, or stress. The study identified about 24 cases for which foreign involvement could not be ruled out, and said that investigation is continuing.
2022 JASON Report
On February 10, 2022, the State Department released unclassified portions of a report it had commissioned from the JASON Advisory Group. It had tasked JASON to consider all available data and evaluate potential directed energy mechanisms with regard to their ability to produce the reported effects.
The study found that 80–90% of the incidents could be easily explained by everyday occurrences or other unrelated factors. For the 10–20% that could not be easily explained, JASON was not able to perform a statistical analysis due to lack of data on a comparable background population, small numbers, and generally low data quality.
The study also examined whether or not electromagnetic radiation could be the cause of AHIs. The study concluded that several forms of radiation could be ruled out, including ionizing radiation, acoustic energy, and RF energy at frequencies less than 500 MHz or greater than 30 GHz. After considering factors such as ability to aim and to penetrate building walls, the remaining frequencies—between 500 MHz and 30 GHz—were determined to be a "highly unlikely" cause, although they could not be conclusively ruled out.
2023
2023 U.S. intelligence report
On March 1, 2023, the House Intelligence Committee released a report, titled "Intelligence Community Assessment", which was jointly prepared by seven U.S. intelligence agencies and published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The report concluded "that there is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing AHIs". The agencies preparing the report reviewed thousands of possible cases of Havana syndrome. The reported stated that there continues to be scientific debate about whether a weapon could produce such health effects.
Five of the seven agencies involved in generating the report concluded "the available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of US adversaries in causing the reported incidents" and that a foreign adversary's involvement was "very unlikely". One of the other agencies concluded that foreign involvement was "unlikely", and the seventh agency declined to make a finding.
Two of the seven agencies had "high confidence in this judgment while three agencies have moderate confidence". Two other agencies judged "that deliberate causal mechanisms are unlikely to have caused AHIs" but those agencies had "low confidence because they judge(d) that radiofrequency (RF) energy is a plausible cause for AHIs, based in part on the findings of the IC Expert Panel and the results of research by some US laboratories."
Regarding the study, government officials said: "There is no one explanation for these incidents. Instead, there are many different possible causes including environmental as well as social factors and preexisting medical conditions." The officials also said that the investigative efforts were 'extremely aggressive' and involved "a high degree of risk", and "Intelligence officers vigorously studied what happened in the hours, days and weeks surrounding the incidents... In some instances they found malfunctioning HVAC systems, which can cause discomfort to humans, and in other cases there were computer mice that created surprising disruptions... We weren't finding what we expected to find... There is no one explanation for any of this."
Of the report, CIA Director Bill Burns said, "The intelligence community assessment released today by ODNI reflects more than two years of rigorous, painstaking collection, investigative work, and analysis by IC agencies including CIA... We applied the agency's very best operational, analytic, and technical tradecraft to what is one of the largest and most intensive investigations in the agency's history."
Politico summarized the results by saying, "The finding undercuts a years-long narrative, propped up by more than a thousand reports from government employees, that a foreign adversary used pulsed electro-magnetic energy waves to sicken Americans."
Reactions
Following release of the March 2023 report, Trump's national security adviser John Bolton revealed that when the Cuban attack reports began, he "pretty quickly" came to believe that this was not in Cuba's interest, and in any case thought it was beyond that nation's capabilities. He assumed Russia was involved, but said that he chose not to brief the president on that belief as he did not think Trump would support that theory due to his prior associations with Vladimir Putin.
Upon release of the report, Cuba's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters, "The unfortunate thing is the U.S. government leveraged to derail bilateral relations... and discredit Cuba." Reuters also reported that "Cuba has for years labeled as 'science fiction' the idea that 'Havana Syndrome' resulted from an attack by a foreign agent, and its top scientists in 2021 found no evidence of such allegations."
Despite the report's conclusion, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement on March 2 rejecting the finding, saying, "Something happened here, and just because you don't have all the answers doesn't mean that it didn't happen." Rubio said his panel would continue an independent review of the claims.
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
During 2023, the International Journal of Social Psychiatry published several articles and commentaries supporting the psychogenic hypothesis, criticizing the energy weapon hypothesis, and questioning whether some earlier Havana Syndrome studies published in JAMA were inappropriately influenced by politics.
2024
The Insider investigative report
On March 31, 2024, The Insider, in collaboration with 60 Minutes and Der Spiegel, published an investigative report claiming that the syndrome was possibly caused by actions of Russian military intelligence. The report states that members of the GRU Unit 29155, known for undertaking foreign operations, received awards and promotions for work related to the development and deployment of "non-lethal acoustic weapons", and that telephone and travel data pinpointing the locations of these agents correlated with the timings and locations of several AHIs worldwide.
The Kremlin Press Secretary dismissed the report as "nothing more than baseless, unfounded accusations by the media." In response to the report, the White House Press Secretary said that a "foreign adversary is very unlikely." US Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance ridiculed the report, claiming that the journalists had lost their minds.
NIH Clinical Center studies
In April, scientists at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center published the results of two studies conducted over five years on two groups of federal employees (81 and 86 persons) who experienced anomalous health incidents (AHIs). The studies did not find any brain injuries or persistent physiologic changes, when comparing AHI patients to a control group. One of the researchers noted that many of the patients are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact their recovery from original AHIs.
The authors of one of the studies concluded that "This ... study ... revealed no significant differences in imaging measures of brain structure or function between individuals reporting AHIs and matched control participants after adjustment for multiple comparisons." Differences between the AHI individuals and the control group were statistically insignificant, after compensating for errors related to multiple measurements.
The authors of the other study concluded that "there were no significant differences between individuals reporting AHIs and matched control participants with respect to most clinical, research, and biomarker measures, except for objective and self-reported measures of imbalance and symptoms of fatigue, posttraumatic stress, and depression. This study did not replicate the findings of previous studies ".
The journal Applied Radiology summarized the results as finding "no significant evidence of MRI-detectable brain injury, nor differences in most clinical measures compared to controls".
In May 2024, a former CIA employee, who reported AHI symptoms and is now an advocate for other AHI patients, claimed that the CIA required him to participate in the NIH study as a prerequisite to obtaining medical care for his AHI symptoms. The CIA denied the allegation. The NIH investigated the claim, and discovered no coercion on the part of NIH personnel. Since the participant perceived he was coerced by the CIA, the NIH terminated the AHI studies in September 2024, to avoid the appearance of possible violation of medical ethics guidelines.
Government response
In March 2021, the State Department appointed ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen, a career foreign service officer, to oversee the department task force charged with responding to the incidents. Six months later, Spratlen left her position as coordinator of the task force because she "reached the threshold of hours of labor" that she could perform as a retiree. Her resignation had been demanded by people angered by her handling of a conference call with affected employees. During the call with employees (in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken also took part), Spratlen did not take a position on whether the syndrome was psychogenic, a response that affected diplomats called "invalidating".
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, passed by Congress in December 2021, included a section directing the president to designate a senior official as "anomalous health incidents interagency coordinator" to oversee efforts across the federal government and to coordinate with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, required relevant federal agencies to designate a specific high-level "anomalous health incident agency coordination lead" and directed agencies to develop guidance to employees considered to be at risk of exposure.
Financial compensation
In response to Havana syndrome, United States Senator Susan Collins introduced a bill (S. 1828), cosponsored by a bipartisan group of nine other senators, that would close a loophole in the Federal Employees' Compensation Act that would normally not cover damage to organs such as the brain and heart.
In 2021, Congress passed the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act, which authorized the CIA director and the secretary of state to provide financial support for personnel with brain injuries. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by president Joe Biden on October 8, 2021, becoming Public Law No. 117-46. The law gives an untaxed lump-sum payment of up to one year's full salary ($187,300 for higher-ranking employees) to government employees that provide evidence of neurological injury. The payment is in addition to workers' compensation or disability payments.
Animal experimentation
In March 2023, Politico reported that the U.S. Army funded a $750,000 grant to Wayne State University for a study to expose 48 ferrets to RF waves, comparing the effects to those from a control group of ferrets; the Department of Defense described the project as an attempt to "develop and test a novel laboratory animal model to mimic mild concussive head injury" similar to those reported by the embassy personnel in Havana and China. Politico also reported that the U.S. Department of Defense had recently tested RF waves on primates. The animal rights group PETA demanded that the Pentagon end live-animal testing in relation to Havana syndrome.
Medical care
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report in July 2024 that surveyed the DOD's actions in providing medical care to AHI patients. The GAO interviewed 65 of the 334 persons that qualified for health care provided by the DOD. Based on the interviews, the GAO found that the AHI patients were often confused by the process to obtain care. The GAO made several recommendations to the DOD, with the goal of streamlining the process and improving communications. The DOD said it is working on implementing the recommendations, but does not yet have concrete dates when they will be implemented.
See also
- Brown note (hypothetical sonic weapon)
- Cuba–United States relations
- Cuban fever, a late-19th to early-20th century name for a form of tropic fever
- Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
- Electronic harassment
- Health scare
- Microwave auditory effect
- Moscow Signal
- Nocebo effect
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Russia–United States relations
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{{cite journal}}
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External links
- "Havana Syndrome" at Reveal (8 April 2023)
- Vice News: Havana Syndrome podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
- Syndromes of unknown causes
- Medical controversies
- Medical controversies in the United States
- 2016 in Cuba
- 2017 in Cuba
- 2018 in Cuba
- 21st century in Havana
- Mass psychogenic illness
- Animal testing
- Canada–China relations
- Canada–Cuba relations
- Canada–Russia relations
- Canada–United States relations
- China–United States relations
- Cuba–United States relations
- Russian intelligence operations
- Russia–United States relations