A senior official from the United States reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome after attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokesperson, confirmed this news to reporters, following reports of links between the mysterious ailment and alleged Russian operatives. Havana Syndrome was first reported in 2016 by US embassy staff in Cuba, with symptoms such as ringing ears, migraines, vertigo, and cognitive dysfunction. The symptoms have since been reported in other countries, including China and Austria. Some experts believe that foreign adversaries could be directing energy waves at diplomats to cause these ailments, although in 2023, the US intelligence community concluded that it was unlikely that a foreign adversary was responsible.
A recent news investigation by 60 Minutes, Der Spiegel, and The Insider raised questions about Russia’s involvement in these incidents and whether the US government had been too quick to dismiss possible links. Evidence suggested that members of a Russian military unit known as 29155 were present when US officials reported symptoms consistent with Havana Syndrome. The Insider found documents indicating that a member of this unit received a bonus for working on non-lethal acoustic weapons. The investigation also pointed to incidents in Germany in 2014 where US consulate officials reported similar symptoms.
The Russian government denied these reports, calling them baseless and unfounded. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the topic of Havana Syndrome had been exaggerated in the press for years, without convincing evidence of any allegations. The National Institutes of Health found no evidence of brain injuries or biological abnormalities in government employees allegedly affected by Havana Syndrome, but acknowledged the real symptoms and disruptions it causes in the lives of those affected. A counterintelligence agent for the FBI described her experience with Havana Syndrome as a high-pitched, metallic drilling noise that affected her balance.
In response to these reports, the US Congress passed the HAVANA Act in 2021 to provide compensation for government employees suffering from symptoms related to the mysterious health incidents. The White House reaffirmed its commitment to investigating the source of the symptoms, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that the Biden administration would push for resources to prioritize personnel protection and conduct a comprehensive examination of anomalous health incidents. The administration takes the issue seriously and aims to determine the causes of these symptoms for the well-being of affected individuals.
