Why is it in the News?

The mysterious so-called Havana Syndrome symptoms experienced by U.S. diplomats in recent years have been linked to a Russian intelligence unit, according to a joint media investigation released on April 1.

What is Havana Syndrome?

• Havana Syndrome is a term used to describe a set of mental health symptoms experienced by US intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
• The symptoms include hearing sounds without any external noise, nausea, vertigo, headaches, memory loss, and balance issues.
• The syndrome first came to light in 2016 when US officials stationed at the country's embassy in Havana, Cuba, began reporting these symptoms.
• The exact cause of the syndrome remains unknown, but it has been linked to high-frequency microwave transmissions.
• The syndrome was named after the city where it was first reported, Havana, and has since been reported by US government officials and military personnel serving at various stations across the world.
• The symptoms of Havana Syndrome are diverse and range from pain and ringing in the ears to cognitive dysfunction.
  • Some individuals have also reported hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.
  • The exact cause of these symptoms remains unknown, with theories ranging from sonic weapons to mass psychogenic illness.
• Despite ongoing investigations, there is currently no known cure for Havana Syndrome.
• Research continues into the potential causes and treatments for this perplexing condition.

Affected Regions:

• As per reports from US media outlets, over the past few years, officials have documented more than 130 instances worldwide, including in Moscow, Russia, Poland, Georgia, Taiwan, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria, among others, with similar accusations emerging in early 2018 from US diplomats stationed in China.
• Status in India: The first such incident was reported in 2021 when a US intelligence officer accompanying CIA director William Burns to New Delhi exhibited symptoms of Havana Syndrome.

Recent Investigation Findings and Russia's Response:

• A year-long investigation revealed evidence suggesting that unexplained anomalous health incidents, commonly known as Havana Syndrome, may be linked to the use of directed energy weapons wielded by members of Russia's GRU Unit 29155, responsible for foreign operations and implicated in various international incidents, including the 2018 attempted poisoning of defector Sergei Skripal in Britain.
• Moscow has dismissed the allegations as "groundless," asserting the absence of convincing evidence, deeming the accusations baseless and unfounded.

What are Microwave Weapons?

• Microwave weapons, a type of directed energy weapon, utilize high-frequency electromagnetic radiation to generate heat in the water within a target's skin, resulting in pain and discomfort.
• Several nations are believed to have developed such weapons for use against both humans and electronic systems.
• China unveiled its "microwave weapon," the Poly WB-1, at an air show in 2014, while the United States has also designed a prototype called the "Active Denial System."
• The existence of these weapons has raised concerns regarding their potential misuse, and further research is necessary to understand their long-term effects and implications on human health and security.