Havana Syndrome likely not the result of energy weapon • The Register

Havana Syndrome – the inexplicable sickness skilled by some US intelligence and diplomatic personnel – is nearly definitely not brought on by vitality weapons, in keeping with the US Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence. It has, somewhat, attributed the illness to pre-existing psychological well being challenges exacerbated by environmental situations.

First reported in 2016 by US and Canadian intelligence officers stationed in Cuba, Havana Syndrome was characterised by quite a lot of unexplained auditory and cognitive signs. People reported listening to sudden loud noises that have been typically accompanied by ear ache. Others reported tinnitus, visible issues, vertigo, and cognitive difficulties. Comparable signs have been later skilled by intelligence personnel and repair members across the globe.  

A definitive trigger was by no means recognized, however a report produced by the US Nationwide Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Drugs found that the signs skilled by US diplomats in Cuba was in step with using directed, pulsed radio frequency vitality.

“Lots of the persistent, nonspecific signs are additionally in step with recognized RF results, equivalent to dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, nervousness, cognitive deficits, and reminiscence loss,” the report learn. “General, directed, pulsed RF vitality, particularly in these with the distinct early manifestations, seems to be essentially the most believable mechanism in explaining these instances.”

Nevertheless, an assessment [PDF] carried out by the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence concluded that “it’s ‘not possible’ a international adversary is answerable for the reported anomalous well being incidents.”

It is price noting that the time period “not possible” – when used on this context by the Nationwide Intelligence Council – is a technical time period which means there’s roughly an 80 p.c likelihood it was one thing else.

That does not imply the signs weren’t actual. In a press release, the Director of Nationwide Intelligence emphasised that the “findings don’t name into query the very actual experiences and signs that our colleagues and their relations have reported,” and added that the officers acted appropriately after they reported the signs.

“We’re sincerely grateful to those that got here ahead because it helped to not solely form our response however establish areas the place we have to enhance our medical and counterintelligence protocols,” the assertion reads. ®