Report: Microwave energy caused mysterious illness among U.S. diplomats

The National Academy of Sciences in a study published Saturday concluded that the “directed, pulsed radio frequency energy” is the most plausible explanation for symptoms presented by U.S. diplomats in Cuba and China in 2016. U.S. officials had suspected a sonic attack when about two dozen diplomats in Havana reported dizziness, headaches, and cognitive issues. Canadian diplomats in Guangzhou, China, also reported similar symptoms in 2017.

Who staged the attack? The 19-member committee did not identify who released the energy but noted that the former Soviet Union researched such methods. Cuba has repeatedly denied any involvement in the incidents. The State Department, which commissioned the study, in a statement said each possible cause remains speculative as the investigation continues.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archive, read Julie Borg’s report in Beginnings on the impact of the illness on the brain. —Onize Ohikere