Havana Syndrome victims get $3m payout from US government
The US government has issued nearly $3 million in compensation to victims of Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological condition affecting diplomats and intelligence staff. This marks the first payout under the 2021 Havana Act, despite ongoing uncertainty regarding the cause of the illness.
Why it matters
The compensation acknowledges the suffering of government personnel while highlighting the unresolved geopolitical and medical mystery surrounding the incidents.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Dearbail Jordan Getty Images Symptoms of the intriguing illness were first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba in 2016 The US government has paid nearly $3m (£2.2m) in compensation to victims of 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, reports of which began emerging a decade ago by CIA officers working in the Cuban capital.
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.
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