Most Havana Syndrome cases likely caused by nature

NEW YORK－Most cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome can be explained by environmental causes, undiagnosed medical conditions or stress, rather than actions by a foreign power, reported The New York Times on Thursday citing CIA officials.

A majority of 1,000 cases reviewed by investigators in the United States are explainable and showed that the mysterious ailment is unlikely to have been caused by foreign adversaries of the US, CIA officials told the newspaper, describing interim findings of a study.

The Central Intelligence Agency is continuing investigations into two dozen unexplained cases that may offer clues as to whether foreign powers are behind the condition that has affected US diplomats, officials and family members overseas, including in Vienna, Paris, Geneva and Havana.

In addition to those cases, a significant number of other cases remain unexplained, a CIA official was quoted by the Times as saying. The CIA did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment on Thursday.

The condition first came to public attention in 2016 after dozens of diplomats at the US embassy in Havana, Cuba, complained of sickness. Symptoms included migraine, nausea, memory lapse and dizziness.

In a statement to The New York Times, CIA Director William Burns said: "While we have reached some significant interim findings, we are not done."

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview that the US still did not know what Havana Syndrome is or who is responsible for it.

Agencies Via Xinhua