Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The US Embassy in Havana. SIPA USA/PA Images
Investigation

Cuba 'sonic attack' claims: Doctors treating US embassy staff find brain abnormalities in patients

The finding is also one of several factors fueling growing scepticism that some kind of sonic weapon was involved.

DOCTORS TREATING THE US Embassy victims of mysterious, invisible attacks in Cuba have discovered brain abnormalities as they search for clues to explain the hearing, vision, balance and memory damage.

It’s the most specific finding to date about physical damage, showing that whatever it was that harmed the Americans, it led to perceptible changes in their brains.

The finding is also one of several factors fueling growing scepticism that some kind of sonic weapon was involved.

Medical testing has revealed the embassy workers developed changes to the white matter tracts that let different parts of the brain communicate, several US officials said, describing a growing consensus held by university and government physicians researching the attacks. White matter acts like information highways between brain cells.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the United States is convinced that the incidents harming the health of US Embassy workers in Cuba were “targeted attacks.”

Tillerson is pushing back on Cuba’s complaints that the US hasn’t shared enough information to let Cuban authorities investigate. He says the US has shared some information but that he’s put two restrictions in place.

Tillerson says he won’t share information that violates individual’s’ privacy or reveals their medical conditions. And he says he won’t release information that helps the perpetrator determine how effective the attacks were.
He added that he understands the Cubans don’t like the actions the US has taken in response. But he says the United States doesn’t like having its diplomats come under attack.

Read: Leo Varadkar and Theresa May phonecall focuses on importance of ‘no hard border’ >

Read: Man arrested after gardaí seized €1.6 million of cannabis in west Dublin >

Author
Associated Foreign Press
Your Voice
Readers Comments
23
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel