The US government has paid nearly $3 million (£2.2 million) in compensation to victims of the so-called Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological condition reported by spies, diplomats and their families. The payments are the first to be made to US agency staff in relation to the illness.

Symptoms of the intriguing illness were first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba in 2016. Since then, American staff based elsewhere, including China, have reported “anomalous health incidents”. Sufferers have described symptoms such as hearing a low hum, clicks, squeals and “grinding metal” while others reported intense pressure on the skull, dizziness and nausea.

The US Department of Defence said it would continue to prioritise “the care of affected personnel” as it announced the compensation, paid out under the Havana Act which was signed into law in 2021.

There has been widespread speculation for many years over what – and who – is responsible for Havana Syndrome. Some have claimed the illness is caused by microwaves, prompting further speculation that a foreign power may have used some kind of sonar weapon to attack US overseas staff and their dependants.

“My brain is broken,” former CIA analyst Erika Stith told CBS News in 2022. “We got this as a result of serving our country. And we deserve to be taken care of,” she said.

Last year, most US intelligence agencies and departments surmised that it was “very unlikely” that a foreign actor used “a novel weapon or prototype device to harm” US personnel and their families. Although, a small component of the US intelligence community did not completely dismiss the theory.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk