Current Affairs

Issue

A report filed by US intelligence department points out that Havana syndrome may have been caused by pulsed electromagnetic energy or close-range ultrasound.

 

Background

Havana syndrome has been in news from past couple of years. It has gained prominence after an incident occurred during Vice President’s visit to Vietnam.

 

Details

• Havana syndrome is a common name used to refer to a series of brain injuries and symptoms experienced by US diplomats during their tenure in foreign countries.

• A previous report by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had suggested that reasons for the symptoms were underlying medical conditions.

 

About the syndrome

• The symptoms under the syndrome include hearing loss, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vertigo and internal brain injuries.

• The symptoms were first reported by US embassy staff and their family members in Havana, Cuba during 2016-17.

 

Previous instances

• A staffer travelling with the CIA director to India experienced symptoms similar to those associated with the syndrome.

• The much-awaited visit by Vice president Kamala Harris to Vietnam was delayed after a Havana syndrome-like health issue cropped up in an official.

• Such symptoms have been observed among US officials serving in Russia, Colombia, Uzbekistan and China. Some cases have been witnessed in the mainland US also.

 

Reports of investigation

• Apart from saying that some ‘Havana Syndrome’ cases may have been caused by pulsed electromagnetic energy in radio frequency, the people behind it have not been named.

• The symptoms shown by affected individuals were genuine and they displayed elevated biomarker levels, indicating cellular injury.

• They may have been caused by external stimuli and the reasons could not be known by medical or environmental conditions.

 

Characteristics of syndrome

• The first characteristic is hearing impact. Secondly, simultaneous symptoms such as vertigo.

• The third symptom is strong sense of directionality and the fourth is absence of conditions that may have caused the symptoms.

• The most probable reason points out to pulsed electromagnetic energy sent using non-standard antennas and techniques.

 

Way ahead

• There must be more focus on identifying and collecting more data. More focus should be given for developing specific tests.

• US employees must be sensitized in order to reduce impacts of psychological and neurological factors.