Havana syndrome,

wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana_syndrome 

An overview of the various studies from wikipedia, and contradicting results

Havana syndrome, also known as anomalous health incidents (AHIs), is a disputed medical condition. Starting in 2016 in about a dozen overseas locations, U.S. and Canadian government officials and their families reported symptoms associated with a perceived localized loud sound. The symptoms lasted for months and included disabling cognitive problems, balance problems, dizziness, insomnia, and headaches.

ieeexplore.ieee.org  The Havana syndrome and microwave weapons [Health Matters]

JC Lin  IEEE Microwave Magazine, 2021

Every few months, if not weeks, another mysterious attack on U.S. diplomatic and intelligence personnel is reported. Some of the attacks occurred years ago, while others were recounted as recently as July 2021 –. Over the past four or five years, nearly 200 U.S. personnel have reported similar attacks while working in places like Havana, Guangzhou, London, Moscow, Vienna, and Washington, D.C. The acute symptoms include headache and nausea immediately following the sounds of loud buzzing or bursts. The illness and symptoms have been called the “Havana Syndrome” after the place where cases were first reported. It refers to the range of symptoms first experienced by U.S. State Department personnel overseas.

A number of government and non-government agencies have conducted investigations into the AHIs, including the State Department (2018), University of Pennsylvania (2018), FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (2018), JASON (2018 and 2022), Centers for Disease Control (2019), Department of Defense (2020), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) (2020), Cuban Academy of Sciences (2021), seven intelligence agencies under the auspices of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) (2023), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2024).[citation needed] Several news organizations have also conducted investigations.[7]

Number of people

There are no official statistics, but media reporting indicated a total of 26 people around 2017,[11] 40 in 2019 (U.S. and Canadian),[12] 130 people in May 2021,[13] more than 200 by September 2021,[14] and more than 1,000 by early 2022.[15] The cases affected CIA, U.S. military, and State Department personnel and their family members.[13] Some reports, after investigation, were determined to have ordinary explanations.[11]

In July 2024, a report from the GAO stated that 334 people had completed the process to qualify for care in the military health system.[16]

In 2017, the U.S. State Department concluded that the health problems were either the result of an attack or due to exposure to an unknown device,[25] but that it was not blaming the Cuban government, and would not say who was to blame.[26] Speculation centered around a sonic weapon,[27] with some researchers pointing to infrasound as a possible cause.[28] Affected people described symptoms such as hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.[25] Some U.S. embassy workers report lasting health problems.[29]

In August 2017, the United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in retaliation for perceived Cuban responsibility.[21] The next month, the U.S. State Department stated that it was removing non-essential staff from the U.S. embassy and warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Cuba.[30] In October 2017, President Donald Trump said he believed that Cuba was responsible for the occurrences,[31] calling them a "very unusual attack".[32]

 In 2019, the Canadian government announced that it was reducing its embassy staff in Havana after a 14th Canadian diplomat reported symptoms of Havana syndrome in late December 2018.[35]

Havana Syndrome: A Scientific Review of an Unresolved Medical Mystery 

Background

Since 2016, U.S. and Canadian officials have reported Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), or "Havana Syndrome," characterised by a strange sensory experience followed by chronic neurological, cognitive, and vestibular issues. The cause is intensely debated, with primary hypotheses pointing to either psychosocial factors or a directed-energy weapon, creating a significant medical and geopolitical puzzle.

Methods

This review critically assesses the current evidence by analysing peer-reviewed clinical studies and major institutional reports.

Results

The findings are deeply contradictory. A 2020 NASEM report identified directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy as the most plausible mechanism for a core set of symptoms. Conversely, comprehensive 2024 NIH studies found no consistent evidence of brain injury or biological markers, and a 2023 Intelligence assessment concluded foreign adversary involvement was "very unlikely."

Conclusions

The etiology of AHIs remains unresolved due to profound discrepancies between major institutional findings. This scientific uncertainty persists even as policy decisions have been implemented to provide care for affected personnel. The situation highlights the immense challenge of addressing a health crisis at the complex intersection of medicine, psychology, and national security.