According to a media report, several US diplomats in Germany are affected by the puzzling “Havana Syndrome”. The “Wall Street Journal” reported on Wednesday, citing diplomats, that at least two US officials had sought medical treatment for symptoms of illness such as dizziness, severe headache, ear pain and fatigue. Such cases have also occurred in other European countries.
According to the Wall Street Journal, some of those affected worked on Russia issues.
The first cases of “Havana Syndrome” surfaced among diplomats in the Cuban capital five years ago. Since 2016, dozens of Canadian and US diplomats and their families in Cuba have suffered from health problems such as drowsiness, fatigue and headaches, as well as hearing and vision problems. Cases in China, Russia and the USA were added later, and there are also said to have been cases in Austria.
Mysterious “acoustic attacks” suspected
The reason for the complaints is unclear. The authorities in Canada and the USA initially suspected mysterious “acoustic attacks” as the cause. The government in Ottawa later classified the use of an acoustic weapon as “unlikely”.
US intelligence coordinator Avril Haines recently said the authorities remain unsure of what is causing the “abnormal health incidents”.
Affected diplomats had accused the government in Washington in recent years of not working hard enough on the investigation. (AFP)
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