Mysterious 'Havana Syndrome' suffered by diplomats caused by Zika fumigation, study suggests

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Toronto Star


Sara Mojtehedzadeh
By Sara Mojtehedzadeh Work and Wealth ReporterMo
Thu., Sept. 19, 2019 2 min. read

A mysterious illness causing fatigue, headaches and memory loss amongst dozens of Canadian and American diplomats in Cuba may be the result of intensive pest fumigation, not sonic “attacks,” a new Canadian health study suggests.

The study of Canadian diplomats in Havana and their families by researchers at Dalhousie University found their debilitating symptoms may be the result of exposure to neurotoxins; embassy records from the time show a “significant increase in fumigation in recent years” with weekly doses of pesticides in many diplomats’ residences.

Exposure to a toxin used to kill mosquitos following the Carribean’s Zika outbreak is a “plausible explanation” for brain injuries acquired by government staff, the report found.

U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Cuba began reporting mysterious neurological issues with concussion-like symptoms in the fall of 2016. Some victims of so-called“Havana Syndrome” reported memory loss, troubled sleep, and hearing strange buzzing noises, leading to unsubstantiated claims by U.S. officials that the illness was caused by an “attack” by Cuban intelligence officials.

“I do believe Cuba’s responsible. I do believe that,” U.S. president Donald Trump said of Havana Syndrome in 2017. “And it’s a very unusual attack, as you know.”

Read more: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/09/19/mysterious-havana-syndrome-suffered-by-diplomats-caused-by-zika-fumigation-study-suggests.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Exposure to neurotoxin may have caused Canadian, U.S. diplomats' ailments in Cuba: study

HAVANA
REUTERS
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

Fumigation against mosquitoes in Cuba and not “sonic attacks” may have caused about 40 U.S. and Canadian diplomats and family members in Havana to fall ill, according to a new study commissioned by the Canadian government.

The incidents took place from late 2016 into 2018, causing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to charge that diplomats were attacked by some sort of secret weapon. Canada has refrained from such charges.

The United States in 2017 reduced its embassy staff to a minimum and Canada followed more recently, citing the incidents and the danger posed to staff from what has become known as the “Havana Syndrome.”

Various scientific studies have yet to identify the cause of the diplomats’ cognitive ailments, ranging from dizziness and blurred vision to memory loss and difficulty concentrating.

The Canadian study by a team of researchers affiliated with the Brain Repair Centre at Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Health Authority studied Canadian victims and even the brain of a pet dog after its demise in Canada.

More:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-exposure-to-neurotoxin-may-have-caused-canadian-us-diplomats/

[KT2000]

2. Very plausible

People are poisoned all the time by insecticides and other chemicals. Not being embassy workers, they are diagnosed as malcontents and malingerers. A psychological diagnosis is attached. So-called safety testing of these chemicals does not include brain damage so when a person suffers that, it is supposed that cannot happen - the studies do not show that.

Also doctors who pinpoint such injuries from pesticides and herbicides, will hear from their insurance companies and state medical boards. The giant corporations who make the stuff are protected.

A large aerospace company was able to dispose of their injured workers to the welfare system rather than acknowledge the injuries and compensate.

[SunSeeker]

3. But the same "syndrome" was experienced by US diplomats in China.

There was no Zika outbreak/fumigation in China that I'm aware of.

[Thekaspervote]

4. So the mystery goes on!! Very strange

[LeftInTX]

5. Darn, I thought the mystery was solved!!

It takes alot of insecticide to get rid of mosquitoes. (Fumigation also results in inhalation, which probably has the worst outcomes for people than contact insecticides)

It really seemed like the culprit.

[stopdiggin]

6. and surely Cuban citizens themselves

would have been stricken in large numbers at the same time? This explanation on the part of the Canadians would seem to need some fleshing out as well. It's helpful to learn that U.S. embassy staff were not the only ones affected (which appeared to be the prevailing story up to this point). And it was probably hugely irresponsible to accuse the Cuban government (or anyone else) of "attacks" with virtually no evidence of any sort to back it up.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. What causes MAGAt thinking?

neurotoxins too?

[Maxheader]

8. Sure...

20 years down the road declassfied documents will reveal
they snorted so much coke it made them sick...I can believe this..

pesticides in many diplomats’ residences.

[DBoon]

9. I bet Trump's EPA approves this pesticide

and it is currently used in massive amounts throughout burned and cleared forests of the Amazon