Havana Syndrome

Havana Syndrome Latest News

Recently, a covertly acquired device by the Pentagon that emits pulsed radio waves is under US testing, reopening questions around Havana Syndrome.

About Havana Syndrome

• It refers to a set of mental health symptoms that are said to be experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
• It does not mean a unique medical condition, but rather a set of symptoms that are usually experienced together whose origins may be difficult to confirm.
• Symptoms: Such as hearing certain sounds without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and balance issues.

• Origin of Havana Syndrome

• It first emerged in late 2016 when US diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba.
• This was about a year after the US opened its embassy in the capital city of Havana after ties between the two countries were normalised in 2015.
• Some US intelligence officials and members of the staff at the embassy began experiencing sudden bursts of pressure in their brains followed by persistent headaches, feelings of disorientation and insomnia.
• In India, the first such case was reported in 2021, when a US intelligence officer travelling to New Delhi with CIA director William Burns reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome.
• No one is entirely sure about the causes of this syndrome.

Source: BS

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