The United States government has paid nearly $3 million in compensation to people affected by the so-called Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological disorder that has been reported in diplomats, intelligence agents and their family members over the past decade. These are the first official payments to employees of US government agencies related to this situation, writes BBC .
The first cases appeared in 2016 among CIA personnel and American diplomats in Havana, Cuba. Those affected reported symptoms such as dizziness, hearing loss, headaches, balance problems, difficulty concentrating, and other neurological impairments. According to official data, 21 compensation claims have been approved so far, with a total value of about $2.9 million.
The payments were made under the HAVANA Act, passed by the US Congress in 2021, which allows affected workers to receive financial support for injuries suffered. The cause of Havana Syndrome remains unclear.
Some US officials have raised suspicions that the symptoms may have been caused by directed energy weapons or microwaves, while investigations by US intelligence services have found no convincing evidence that a foreign power or a coordinated campaign of attacks is behind the cases.
Despite the lack of a definitive explanation for the origin of the syndrome, American authorities have decided to compensate people who have suffered health consequences during their service abroad. /Telegraph