Havana Syndrome: Something Fishy?

Revoking images of the Cold War when, every now and then, conspiracy theories floated around Black Ops conducted by one block on another. Even the diplomatic corps was not safe from such alleged attacks, few of which could ever be proved to a conclusion.

The recent mystery of Havana Syndrome, which has allegedly struck down numerous U.S. diplomats, continues as new research and investigations still do not conclusively set suspicions to rest. It cannot be denied that its symptoms are real - migraines, chronic dizziness, piercing sounds, and depression - even though they are yet to be explained. Despite the lack of physiological footprints, the possibility of an external attack refuses to be ruled out.

Background

In 2016, U.S. diplomats in Cuba's capital, Havana, faced inexplicable health issues like hearing piercing sounds and experiencing headaches, nausea, vertigo, impaired cognitive functioning, and even memory loss. Since then, hundreds of incidents of “Havana Syndrome" have been reported, affecting U.S. intelligence and foreign service officers in a range of locations across the globe, including Europe, Russia, China, and even Washington.

An investigation suggests that the first cases may have taken place two years earlier than the Havana episode in Germany, where a U.S. government employee at the consulate was struck down by what could have been a powerful energy beam.

The incidents' uncanny focus on U.S. state personnel and their proximity to known U.S. adversaries and espionage have sparked speculation of foul play, such as a foreign enemy using a sonar attack. 

Analysis

What baffles the medical community is that people affected by the syndrome, clinically called anomalous health incidents (AHIs), display no tangible differences from unaffected people, such as signs of brain damage. Brain scans conducted on the embassy staff affected in the original Havana episode did reveal tissue damage and volume loss resembling the effects of a condition called persistent concussion syndrome. However, a recent investigation found no MRI-detectable brain damage. It is worth noting that this study has been criticized on the basis that not all brain damage is detectable with the test methods it used.

More importantly, a lack of MRI-detectable differences in the brain does not rule out the possibility that the brain has been adversely affected. The injury may not result in long-term changes visible through neuroimaging such as those produced by a severe trauma or stroke. Its physiological markers may no longer be detectable. 

Individuals with AHI did not have major differences from controls in terms of clinical markers but did report experiencing high fatigue, post-traumatic stress, and depression. 41 per cent of participants met the criteria for functional neurological disorders (FNDs), a category of common neurological movement disorders caused by abnormal functioning of the brain.

Despite the lack of clinical markers, the symptoms are real, significantly inhibit the sufferers, can continue for lengthy periods, and can be difficult to treat. For instance, an FBI agent described feeling like a dentist was drilling into her ear “times ten”.

U.S. intelligence has given a mixed response on the issue. In 2022, it acknowledged that intense directed energy from an external source like a hidden device could have caused some cases of the syndrome. However, in 2023, it was concluded that there was no substantial proof that a foreign enemy had a weapon or device causing Havana Syndrome, and the symptoms were dismissed as arising from preexisting conditions and environmental factors.

A joint investigation by three media outlets cited by Times Magazine found that Russian sonic weapons were targeting U.S. officials. According to the report, members of Russia's highly secretive military group, Unit 29155, under the direct control of President Vladimir Putin, were present at sites where Havana Syndrome incidents took place, affecting U.S. officials. Moreover, unit members received awards and promotions for their work towards developing "acoustic weapons". The Kremlin has dismissed the report.

This contrasts the above-mentioned U.S. intelligence investigation, which reported that it was highly unlikely that a foreign enemy was behind the illness. Questions persist about whether a neurological disorder, an external mechanism, or extraneous factors cause the mysterious syndrome.