A government report has finally revealed what may have caused a mysterious brain disorder affecting thousands of American diplomats and spies.
The House Intelligence Committee has released a declassified report on Havana syndrome, stating that “it seems increasingly likely” that a “foreign adversary” may be behind some of the cases.
This mysterious condition has baffled scientists since it was first reported in 2016, with more than 1,500 US officials around the world reporting symptoms such as persistent dizziness, nausea and unexplained balance problems.
The subcommittee, chaired by Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford, says U.S. intelligence networks in Cuba and other affected areas could have been compromised by foreign spies in “adversary” countries such as China, Cuba and Russia.
The condition has been attributed to exposure to radiation, chemical agents, and electromagnetic energy, although some experts have suggested that the symptoms are psychosomatic.
The new report criticizes the US intelligence community for “frustrating” the committee’s attempts to investigate the phenomenon.
He accused the FBI and CIA of failing to adequately investigate the symptoms of American agents.
“Due to this lack of cooperation and the Subcommittee’s inability to access specific information, the Subcommittee concludes that there must be something that IC (intelligence community) leaders have tried to prevent Congress from discovering,” the scathing report says. .
Above, an old American car passes the US embassy in Havana on December 17, 2015.
After U.S. embassy officials and staff reported hundreds of cases in nearly 70 countries, new reports of Havana syndrome declined sharply beginning in early 2022. But the mystery of what caused the ailments and alarm persists. (Above a chronological map of key incidents)
The subcommittee said it would investigate further during the incoming Trump administration.
Earlier this year, a separate government-funded study found no signs of brain injury in 80 self-reported victims and said it was highly unlikely to be caused by foreign adversaries.
However, the researchers admitted that the symptoms were “quite profound” and “disabling.”
The Foreign Policy Research Institute estimates that 1,500 US officials have suffered mysterious neurological injuries since 2016.
The phenomenon was called Havana syndrome after several government personnel stationed at the United States embassy in Havana, Cuba, reported symptoms.
However, symptoms have also been reported in the US, Austria, China, Colombia, Georgia, Germany, India, Poland, Russia and Vietnam.
According to the new report, these symptoms include vertigo, loss of balance, ear pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and difficulty with cognitive tasks.
The report indicates that Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) have mainly affected federal employees, particularly those in the intelligence sector, as well as their families and children.
The report says: “Since initial reports in 2016, AHIs have been widely affecting US government officials, including White House staff, diplomats, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials, , Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, and military personnel and their families, at home and abroad.’
“There is no environmental cause causing the body damage I saw,” an anonymous PhD source told DailyMail.com last year. ‘I don’t know how damage is created inside the body, like the one seen, that appears suddenly and that could be called “pre-existing conditions.”‘
Although the NIH researchers found no brain changes in the Havana syndrome patients, they admitted that they had “profound” symptoms.
Earlier this year, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health evaluated 81 intelligence workers who claimed to suffer from Havana syndrome.
The research team, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland, compared the results of these MRIs with the MRIs of 48 control participants.
Although the team could not rule out a temporary lesion, they found “a lack of evidence of an MRI-detectable difference between individuals with IAH and controls.”
However, 24 patients showed verifiable signs of a condition called “persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.” This occurs when brain networks fail to communicate properly, which could be due to stress problems in the inner ear.
Despite the lack of evidence, the research team admitted that “these people have real symptoms and are having a very difficult time.”
“They can be quite profound, disabling and difficult to treat.”
The subcommittee requested that the current data on Havana syndrome be updated and that “the issue of AHI should be reinvestigated.”
They also expressed the dire need for patients to receive medical care and resources.
The report states: “While some of those affected have been able to receive federal support for ongoing medical care, including, but not limited to, workers’ compensation, significant gaps have been identified that have left some in need of care for their injuries.” received while serving the country. .’