The CIA has reached the preliminary conclusion that the mysterious "Havana syndrome", affecting American diplomats around the world and described as a manifestation of "acoustic attacks" that some attribute to Russia's actions, is not a priori attributable to an attack by a foreign power, according to information published in the New York Times.
The US newspaper and the NBC network cite the CIA's preliminary findings on the incidents that first appeared to diplomats in 2016 in the Cuban capital, with US and Canadian diplomats reporting severe headaches and nausea.
"Having reviewed hundreds of incidents, the U.S. agency came up with explanations of possible and alternative" to a foreign country's operation, according to sources cited by NBC. But the CIA's investigation continues into twenty cases that remain unexplained.
"The preliminary report is not the final conclusion of the Biden administration or the intelligence community as a whole," NBC clarified, citing U.S. officials.
A group of syndrome victims, cited by the New York Times, says the CIA's conclusions "cannot and should not be the final word on the matter."
"Although we have reached interim significant results, we are not finished," asserted CIA Director William T. Burns, according to the New York Times. "We are continuing to investigate these incidents."
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pledged in November 2021 to fully resolve the "Havana syndrome" and named two top diplomats in charge of the dossier.
The "Havana syndrome" manifests itself with severe migraines, dizziness and nausea. Brain damage has also been reported.
Since their appearance in Havana, cases of the syndrome have been reported in China, Germany, Australia, Russia, Austria and Washington itself.
The State Department refuses to give a number of cases, estimated at 200.
From the beginning, US authorities have treated the issue with caution. Some officials downplayed the symptoms, attributing some of them to stress, while others referred to possible attacks via radio waves, with suspicion falling on Russia.
But this position is being challenged by some scientists, who believe it is unlikely that there is a common cause for all the incidents.
Source: protothema.gr
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