EXPLAINED: What Is Havana Syndrome? The Mysterious Condition Affecting Brains Of US Officials

The syndrome exhibited unexplained medical symptoms first experienced by the US State Department personnel stationed in Cuba beginning in late 2016

New Delhi: The mystery condition, Havana Syndrome, is in news again as a CIA officer who travelled to India this month reported symptoms consistent with the syndrome.

"We have protocols in place for when individuals report possible anomalous health incidents that include receiving appropriate medical treatment," the CIA spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters as NYT and CNN reported about the incident.

Last month, US Vice-President Kamala Harris' flight to Vietnam was delayed by several hours due to an "anomalous health incident".

Reportedly, the US officials in Hanoi pointed out that an official was affected by the "Havana syndrome".

Who Is Impacted By Havana Syndrome?

The mysterious health syndrome has initially appeared in the US and Canadian embassies in Havana in 2016 and 2017. It is interesting to note that a growing number of diplomats and other government personnel, in foreign locations mostly, have experienced this strange set of symptoms.

Although the syndrome was first reported in Cuba in 2016, similar cases have been reported in other nations including China and Austria. Hundreds of US diplomats and other personnel have reportedly fallen ill with symptoms including ear ringing, nausea, and severe headaches, as per the BBC report.

What Are Havana Syndrome Symptoms?

The syndrome exhibited unexplained medical symptoms first experienced by the US State Department personnel stationed in Cuba beginning in late 2016. CIA officers at the American embassy experienced a rare sensation of pressure in their heads.

Those reported with the condition has reported a range of conditions including dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and memory loss of varying intensity.

Also, in certain cases, diplomats and intelligence officers have to quit active service as a result of complications from the condition, as per the Wall Street Journal report.

Apart from nausea and fatigue, officials also had difficulties in remembering things. Later, brain scans showed tissue damage similar to that caused by a car accident or a bomb blast, as per the Economist report.

This gained the attention of the US government which led to the withdrawal of more than half its embassy staff in the city.