A U.S. doctor diagnosed American and Canadian diplomats who served in Havana, Cuba, with medical conditions such as mild traumatic brain injury, with potential damage to the central nervous system, according to medical records reviewed by CBS News.
The State Department said earlier this month “some” U.S. diplomats in Havana reported “incidents which have caused a variety of physical symptoms,” including hearing loss, nausea, headaches, and balance disorders.
A source told CBS News that officials are investigating whether the U.S. government personnel were the victims of a type of sonic attack directed at their homes in Cuba. The Cuban government provides housing to U.S. diplomats, and the source said there have been continued reports of attacks on U.S. embassy staff.
The doctor who examined the American and Canadian diplomats also warned in the medical documents there could be health risks associated with future exposures.
In a statement to CBS News, the University of Miami Health System confirmed its doctors were “consulted” by the State Department on the health of U.S. diplomats in Cuba.
The State Department said earlier this month several American personnel in Cuba began to suffer physical ailments late last year.
The agency said it hasn’t identified the source of the attacks, and several diplomats returned to the U.S., cutting their assignments short.
The U.S. government also expelled two Cuban diplomats in May.
“We hold the Cuban authorities responsible for finding out who is carrying out these health attacks on not just our diplomats, but, as you’ve seen now, there are other cases with other diplomats involved,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters this month.
The Cuban government has denied involvement in the incidents.
