The US State Department has approved the first tranche of claims for payments for employees affected by the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome, Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Thursday.
The Havana Act, which gives the department and other agencies the authority to compensate employees who have suffered brain injuries, was passed after diplomats and other US officials complained of unexplained illnesses while in office.
“We are reviewing other requests and will continue to do so as they are received,” Patel said at a regular press conference.
Havana Syndrome
The mysterious illness, first reported among US officials in the Cuban capital in 2016, has afflicted US diplomats, officials and family members abroad. Symptoms include migraines, nausea, memory lapses and dizziness.
“We’re going to continue to do everything we can with whatever resources we can bring to bear to understand, again, what happened, why and who might be responsible,” said Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
The secretary added that the State Department will continue to focus on ensuring that those afflicted receive the health care they need.
CIA Director William Burns made a similar statement: “While we’ve reached some significant tentative conclusions, we’re not done yet,” Burns said in a statement.
“We will continue the mission to investigate these incidents and provide access to world-class care for those who need it.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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