Havana Syndrome: What is the mysterious illness?
A mysterious neurological illness called the Havana Syndrome that had so long been restricted to the US, has finally entered India in the beginning of September.
A CIA officer who travelled from the US to India on business was reported to have shown symptoms of this disease in New Delhi, earlier this month. The American official was part of the delegation ceremony of the CIA Director William Burns right before he travelled to India, where he had to be administered emergency medical assistance.
This incident occurred after US Vice President Kamala Harris had to postpone her Vietnam tour. A handful of US officials who were supposed to accompany her showed similar symptoms.
When and where was it first reported?
Havana Syndrome was first reported in Cuba in late 2016 when diplomats from countries like Russia, China and Austria and also alleged spies from the US were declared to be suffering from this neurological ailment. Since it originated in the Cuban capital Havana, the ailment has been named after the city.
What were the symptoms?
In late 2016, US officials stationed in Havana complained of multiple uneasiness including nausea, severe headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irregular sleep and hearing troubles. According to them, these symptoms started developing soon after they had settled in their hotel rooms and had started sensing strange noises and physical discomforts. Since then, around 200 US authorities and their immediate families have been diagnosed with this disease, with symptoms lasting for more than a few months at a stretch. In 2019, scientists in America revealed that certain US diplomats who have suffered from the syndrome have shown signs of long-lasting brain deformities.
Causes behind the Havana Syndrome
Researchers are yet to confirm the exact causes behind this mysterious illness. Starting from it being a mental disorder to some kind of a sonic/laser weapon, several theories have surfaced around this disorder. But no conclusive opinion has been formed so far.
However, according to a study by the US institute National Academies of Sciences (NAS), the ailment can be a result of exposure to high levels of microwave radiation.
However, some experts in the field have discarded this notion and have stated that it’s a stress-related problem that only affects those who are sent on foreign missions for months. In fact, Robert W. Baloh, a neurology scholar at UCLA have termed it as mass psychogenic (stress-related) condition caused after having spent a lot of time in a challenging environment, in a BBC interview. It can also happen as a result of being too self-aware, alarmed and hyperactivity according to him.
What have researchers found so far?
A panel of 19 neuroscientists from National Academies of Sciences (NAS) collaborated to find four final possible causes behind the illness: Infection, exposure to chemicals, exposure to microwave radiation or psychological reasons like stress of being in a foreign environment for far too long. The research, commissioned by the US State Department, has been conducted with the help of 40 US government personnel who have already been affected with the syndrome.
However, the research has revealed conclusions that said that the most plausible culprit behind Havana Syndrome seems to be energy from directed pulsed radio frequency.
No nation has been blamed so far for this disease. USSR’s research directs at microwave weapons as the possible explanation, but the studies are still inconclusive.