DIPLOMAT SAID TO HAVE ‘HAVANA SYNDROME’ SUES
A U.S. diplomat who says he suffers from a mysterious illness known as “Havana Syndrome” has sued the State Department and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for disability discrimination, alleging that he was poorly treated compared with colleagues who reported similar ailments, and that he suffered retaliation from the U.S. government.
In a complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mark Lenzi also accused the State Department of initially downplaying the health risks of Havana Syndrome. He said an agency-affiliated doctor refused to diagnose him with the condition, meaning he received less support than other colleagues.
The State Department did not immediately respond late Thursday to a request for comment.
Havana Syndrome, named after the Cuban capital where cases were first reported among Western diplomats five years ago, includes symptoms such as headaches, nausea, memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.
Some 200 cases have been logged since its emergence, but the condition has confounded medical experts.
The United States has been criticized for a slow response to the issue, which has plagued government officials stationed even in countries that have friendly ties with Washington.
Lenzi, a former staffer for the late Sen. John McCain, has been actively calling for the U.S. government to do more about Havana Syndrome. Lenzi was eventually diagnosed with a brain injury after being evacuated from China with his family to the United States, according to the filing. But he said his career has stagnated since his return, with promotions stalled and requests for several foreign postings denied.