Worldwide Impact of Havana Syndrome
Worldwide Impact of Havana Syndrome
GS-3: Health
(IAS/UPPCS)
Relevant for Prelims:
Havana syndrome, radiofrequency, sonic attack, intermodulation distortion, microwave weapons, National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
Relevant for Mains:
Havana syndrome, origin, symptoms, causes, effects and origin, conclusion.
03/04/2024
Source: Indian Express
Context:
In recent years, many cases of a mysterious disease have been noticed across the world, from America's Washington DC to China.
- The maximum impact of this disease has been found among the officials of American embassies present in different countries. These officers have alleged that they were attacked by sound waves, apart from this, the disease has also been complained by the employees of the Canadian Embassy and their families.
- During 2016 to 2021, cases of this disease have also been reported in countries like Colombia, Uzbekistan and China.
- America has also passed a law to help people suffering from this disease. Let us know what is the name of this disease? Experts have named it Havana Syndrome.
What is Havana Syndrome?
- Generally the term 'syndrome' simply means a group of symptoms. It is not a single disease, but rather a group of symptoms commonly experienced together, the causes of which remain difficult to confirm.
- Currently, it is a group of mental health symptoms whose effects have been experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
Its original origin:
- This syndrome was originally found in Havana, Cuba in late 2016. That is why it is called Havana syndrome.
- In 2015, a year after normalization of relations between the two countries, America opened its embassy in the capital Havana.
- Some American intelligence officers and embassy staff suddenly began experiencing increased pressure in their brains, causing frequent headaches, disorientation and insomnia.
Symptoms of Havana Syndrome:
- Most people suffering from Havana syndrome have heard loud noises and felt severe pressure or vibration in the head, as well as pain in their ears or head.
- Apart from this, symptoms like memory loss, dizziness, headache, irritability, nausea, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), nose bleeding etc. have also been noticed.
Causes of Havana Syndrome:
- At present the causes of the syndrome are not yet clearly known.
- According to experts, exposure to radiofrequency, sonic attack, intermodulation distortion, pesticides cause the problem of Havana syndrome.
- In the year 2020, a report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), US, suggested that microwave radiation was a possible cause of Havana syndrome.
Impact and investigation of Havana Syndrome:
- American people have become more victims of this disease.
- Since the Cuban incident, US intelligence and foreign affairs officials stationed in various countries have reported symptoms of the syndrome.
- Similar allegations were made by US diplomats in China in 2018.
- Reported by a USAID employee at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September 2017.
- According to American media reports, in the last few years its officials have reported more than 130 such experiences around the world.
- The first such case in India was reported in 2017 when a US intelligence officer traveling to New Delhi with CIA Director William Burns reported symptoms of Havana syndrome.
- Many researches are being done on this topic. In the coming time, the exact causes of Havana Syndrome will be known.
- Although Cuba is a country that has been hostile to the US for more than five decades, suspicions rested on Cuban intelligence or a section within the Cuban establishment that did not want US-Cuba relations to remain normal. It was then speculated that it was a "sonic attack".
- However, further studies suggest that they may be exposed to high-powered microwaves that either damage or interfere with the nervous system.
Havana Syndrome Cases:
- The year 2021 was witnessed in Berlin, Paris, Geneva, Vienna, Serbia and India.
- Washington DC (2019), China (April 2018), Hanoi-Vietnam (2002), Havana-Cuba (2016).
Microwave Weapon:
- Excessive exposure to high-powered microwaves not only disrupts the body's sense of balance, but also affects memory and causes permanent brain damage.
- Mobile phones also emit low level microwaves but they are not targeted.
- It was suspected that high-powered microwave rays were sent through a special gadget that the Americans then called a “microwave weapon.”
- It is said that this created pressure inside the brain which gave the sensation of hearing sound.
- The use of microwaves as a counter-intelligence tactic has been used since the Cold War and both Russia and the US have attempted to weaponize it.
Countries with microwave weapons:
- Many countries are believed to have developed these weapons to target both human and electronic systems.
- For the first time, China demonstrated its microwave weapon named Poly WB-1 in an air show in the year 2014.
- The US has also developed a prototype microwave-style weapon, which it calls the "Active Denial System", the first non-lethal, directed-energy, counter-personnel system. Its extended range currently exceeds that of non-lethal weapons.
Havana Syndrome in India
- As of July 2023, the 2021 incident was the only reported incident of the syndrome in India.
- The Indian security establishment claims that they were not aware of any weapon with such capability being in the possession of any Indian agency.
- Indian officials have said there is no reason for India to use Havana syndrome as a weapon against the US.
Conclusion:
Havana Syndrome is discussed as a mysterious disease all over the world. The root causes of this disease are not yet clear. Some medical experts in the US have described it as a syndrome, a psychological illness that is fueled by widespread fear of being targeted.
--------------------------------------------------------
Mains Question:
Diplomats and embassies around the world face various threats due to hostilities between countries. Critically evaluate Havana Syndrome in the light of recent incidents across the world.