The United States Central Intelligence Agency has set up a task force to investigate recent cases of the so-called "Havana Syndrome," a mysterious medical condition that continues to baffle experts. The matter came to light in 2017, when Washington recalled most of its staff from its embassy in Havana, Cuba, and at least two other diplomats from its consulate in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. The displaced reported experiencing "unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena" and hearing "unusual sounds or piercing noises".

Subsequent tests showed that diplomatic personnel suffered from sudden and unexplained hearing loss, and possibly various forms of brain injury. In April 2019, the Canadian embassy evacuated all family members of its staff stationed in the Cuban capital for similar health problems. A subsequent study by the National Academies of Sciences reported the collective findings of leading toxicologists, epidemiologists, electrical engineers, and neurologists, who examined the symptoms experienced by nearly 40 U.S. government employees.

There are now reports that "more than a dozen" CIA officers have returned to the United States for medical examinations after reporting symptoms associated with "Havana syndrome". Citing "current and former US officials and people familiar with the matter," CBS News said Thursday that some of the officers requested emergency medical evacuation after suddenly falling ill.

A White House spokesman, in a speech to CBS News, reported that the "Havana Syndrome" continued to be an area of ​​"active investigation". A spokesperson for the National Security Council added that specifics regarding CIA personnel could not be discussed. The spokesperson went on to say that a "government-level effort" was underway to determine who was responsible for the phenomenon and to protect US government personnel serving overseas.

The CIA examines the "Havana Syndrome"