Havana syndrome
| Havana syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Anomalous health incidents Unexplained health incidents Unidentified health incidents |
| The Hotel Nacional in Havana is one of the locations where the syndrome was reported. | |
| Causes | Not determined |
| Named after | Havana, Cuba |
Havana syndrome, also known as anomalous health incidents (AHIs), is a disputed medical condition. Starting in 2016, U.S. and Canadian government officials and their families reported symptoms of AHIs in about a dozen overseas locations. Reported symptoms include a sudden onset, associated with a perceived localized loud sound, of chronic symptoms that lasted for months, such as disabling cognitive problems, balance, dizziness, insomnia, and headaches. Havana syndrome is not officially recognized as a disease by the medical community.
A number of government and non-government agencies have conducted investigations into the AHIs, including the State Department (2018), University of Pennsylvania (2018), FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (2018), JASON (2018 and 2022), Centers for Disease Control (2019), Department of Defense (2020), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) (2020), Cuban Academy of Sciences (2021), seven intelligence agencies under the auspices of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) (2023), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2024). Several news organizations also conducted investigations.
Official investigations have provided various theories on the cause of AHI, but there is no consensus. Theories include directed-energy weapons, psychological/social factors, and toxic chemicals. Investigative journalists report AHI symptoms are consistent with directed-energy weapons, and the sightings of agents of a Russian Intelligence unit who have developed such weapons. However no direct causal relation has been established, partially because there is little experimental research on the effects of energy weapons on the human brain. Some investigations stated that it is difficult to prove or disprove if psychological/social factors are responsible, but some researchers stated that psychological/social factors are a potential primary or secondary cause.
The U.S. government has established a variety of programs providing medical and financial support to persons that reported AHI symptoms, but some AHI patients continue to campaign for additional support.