Mysterious ailments in Cuba stump feds

Health problems affecting only American and Canadian diplomats, their families

OTTAWA— Months after Canadians diplomats and family members based in Cuba reported strange health problems, the federal government says it’s no closer to solving the mystery of what made them sick.

Noises in the garden, pressure waves, headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness and a child’s nosebleed are among the clues and symptoms that are now the focus of a governmentwide investigation led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but also involving the Department of National Defence, Health Canada and other federal agencies.

A Global Affairs official briefed reporters Wednesday on what the federal government knows so far about the curious crisis that has also hit American diplomats based in Havana and left Washington scrambling to find answers too.

Despite the health concerns — the most recent possible incident was reported in December — operations continue as normal at the Canadian embassy, though unspecified security precautions have been taken.

Yet the department also admits it is in uncharted waters, confronting a situation it has never seen elsewhere.

The drama started in April, when American diplomats asked their Canadian counterparts whether they had experienced any unexplained ailments or heard any strange sounds.

In all, 27 Canadians underwent testing and of those, eight individuals required medical followup. None of the eight suffered permanent damage and all have returned to work or school, the official said.

The incidents appear to have been clustered in early spring, though an individual in August and another in December complained about feeling waves of pressure.

Twenty-four U.S. personnel have been affected. They described experiencing sensations such as a “highpitched beam of sound,” an “incapacitating sound” or an intense pressure in one ear, he told U.S. lawmakers.

But the Canadian experience has been different, the official said. Some Canadians have reported hearing a noise — similar to warping sheet metal — but only one of those then reported health symptoms.

That’s why the Canadian investigation continues to consider all possible causes, ranging from foul play to factors such as air and water, with environmental assessments underway, the official said Wednesday.

Strangely, only Americans and Canadians appeared to have been affected.