What is this Havana syndrome affecting US officials?

Although the syndrome is unexplained, US scientists say that it is most probably caused by directed microwave radiation.

Hyderabad: The US government, along with Austria, is working towards getting to the bottom of a series of health incidents that involve its diplomats and other administrative staff in Vienna.

‘The New Yorker’ magazine said that since US President Joe Biden took office in January, more than 20 US intelligence officers, diplomats and other officials in Vienna have reported symptoms similar to those of Havana syndrome, making it the second-biggest hotspot after Havana.

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Although the syndrome is unexplained, US scientists say that it is most probably caused by directed microwave radiation.

What are the symptoms of this mystery Havana syndrome?

The mystery syndrome was first discovered in Cuba in 2016-17, the US and Canadian diplomats have complained of symptoms ranging from dizziness, loss of balance, hearing loss, and anxiety to even something they described as “cognitive fog”.

“We take these reports very seriously and in line with our role as host state we are working with the US authorities on jointly getting to the bottom of this,” Austria’s Foreign Ministry said in a short statement.

“The safety of diplomats posted to Vienna and their families is of the utmost importance to us,” the statement added.

A US State Department spokesperson also said they were “vigorously investigating reports of possible unexplained health incidents (UHI) among the US Embassy Vienna community or wherever they are reported”.

Among other necessary steps, the US has already set up a team of medical experts that can address these problems globally and is working to “better protect against these events in the future”, the official added.