U.S. government has paid out nearly $3 million to people hit by Havana Syndrome. It's first time agency staffers get such compensation after reports of the illness started about a decade ago, mostly among CIA officers in Cuba .
Since then,it's spread beyond Cuba. American diplomats and officials in places like China have also faced "anomalous health incidents." Symptoms include piercing sounds,intense head pressure, dizziness,nausea.
Department of Defense announced payments under Havana Act,a law from 2021 to help affected personnel. They stressed the importance of caring for those impacted.
Speculation swirls around Havana Syndrome origins. Some think foreign adversaries might use microwave tech or sonic weapons against U.S. personnel . Former CIA analyst Erika Stith, who suffers from it, voiced frustration over lack of support. "My brain is broken," she said in 2022. "We got this from serving our country. We deserve care."
Last year, most U.S . intelligence agencies said it was "very unlikely" foreign power used a new weapon against Americans. But some disagreed. National Intelligence Council noted affected people's experiences are real,but there's no agreement on the cause.
Havana Syndrome first came to light in 2016 when U.S . diplomats in Cuba reported strange symptoms and nighttime noises. In 2017, U.S. cut its Havana embassy staff by more than half . Canada also reduced personnel in Havana in 2019 due to similar issues.
The syndrome ties into recent diplomatic tensions,but some experts think it goes back to the Cold War . Similar symptoms have appeared globally,from Washington, D.C., to Asia,raising questions about a wider pattern among U.S. officials.
As investigations continue,Havana Syndrome remains a mystery . The U.S. government's recent payments are a big acknowledgment of the victims' struggles,but the true nature and origins of this baffling condition are still up in air…
