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Medicine United States

'Pulsed Electromagnetic Energy' Could Cause Havana Syndrome (cnn.com) 72

Posted by BeauHD from the no-definitive-determinations-made dept.
An intelligence panel investigating the cause of a spate of mysterious incidents that have struck dozens of US officials across the globe has said that some of the episodes could "plausibly" have been caused by "pulsed electromagnetic energy" emitted by an external source, according to an executive summary of the panel's findings released Wednesday. CNN reports: But the panel stopped short of making a definitive determination, saying only that both electromagnetic energy and, in limited circumstances, ultrasound could explain the key symptoms -- highlighting the degree to which the murky illness known colloquially as "Havana Syndrome" has remained one of the intelligence community's most stubborn mysteries. "We've learned a lot," an intelligence official familiar with the panel's work told reporters, speaking on anonymity under terms set by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. "While we don't have the specific mechanism for each case, what we do know is if you report quickly and promptly get medical care, most people are getting well."

The scientific panel emphasized that the cases it studied were "genuine and compelling," noting that some incidents have affected multiple people in the same space and clinical samples from a few victims have shown signs of "cellular injury to the nervous system." An executive summary of the panel's work provided new details about how the government is categorizing cases as possible Havana Syndrome, a clinically vague illness that has long frustrated firm diagnosis because victims have suffered from such a diverse array of symptoms. Although officials declined to say how many cases the panel examined as part of its inquiry, they said they studied cases that met four "core characteristics": the acute onset of sounds or pressure, sometimes in only one ear or on one side of the head; simultaneous symptoms of vertigo, loss of balance and ear pain; "a strong sense of locality or directionality"; and the absence of any known environmental or medical conditions that could have caused the other symptoms.

Both pulsed electromagnetic energy, "particularly in the radiofrequency range," and ultrasonic arrays could feasibly cause the four core symptoms, the panel found. Both could originate from "a concealable source." But ultrasound can't travel through walls, the panel found, "restricting its applicability to scenarios in which the source is near the target." Sources of radiofrequency energy, on the other hand, are known to exist, "could generate the required stimulus, are concealable, and have moderate power requirements," the panel said. "Using nonstandard antennas and techniques, the signals could be propagated with low loss through air for tens to hundreds of meters, and with some loss, through most building materials." But intelligence officials familiar with the panel's work emphasized that important information gaps remained, forestalling them from reaching firmer conclusions. The experts panel also ruled out so-called psycho-social factors. They also ruled out "ionizing radiation, chemical and biological agents, infrasound, audible sound, ultrasound propagated over large distances, and bulk heating from electromagnetic energy."

"The panel made seven recommendations, including developing better biomarkers that are 'more specific and more sensitive for diagnosis and triage' of cases," reports CNN. "It also recommended utilizing 'detectors' and obtaining 'devices to aid research.' Finally, officials urged swift action by medical officials whenever a case is reported, emphasizing that individuals who have been treated immediately after an event have improved."
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'Pulsed Electromagnetic Energy' Could Cause Havana Syndrome More

'Pulsed Electromagnetic Energy' Could Cause Havana Syndrome

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  • If it can't hear you, you know the equipment is working

  • I do accept the Cuban explanation it was caused by cicadas, those things are 120 db plus. Occams Razor and no sci-fi B.S.

    • "Cicadas" doesn't explain why it would be limited to people in US owned buildings.

      • "Cicadas" doesn't explain why it would be limited to people in US owned buildings.

        Of course it does. If it was anywhere else they would be las cigarras.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by XXongo ( 3986865 )

        "Cicadas" doesn't explain why it would be limited to people in US owned buildings.

        Selection bias? Those are just the cases we hear about in the US.

      • Re: (Score:1, Funny)

        by iggymanz ( 596061 )

        Yes it does, the spanish speaking complain or joke in Spanish about the loud cicadas which they are used to, meanwhile the out of town wear-the-nails snowflake honkies whine, have breakdowns, go to their therapist, and complain in English and you believe their fantasy bullshit of secret devices and plots.

      • Only the US owned buildings are full of US owned unicorn snowflakes.
      • Indeed, I am more inclined to think that, if it were an ultrasonic weapon attack, it would be timed to coincide with loud cicada noise as a from of cover as well as forensic counter-measure

    • I do accept the Cuban explanation it was caused by cicadas, those things are 120 db plus. Occams Razor and no sci-fi B.S.

      I was wondering if people don't have the cause/effect reversed on this.

      Suppose there was an external effect, and this effect caused the syndrome *and* drove the cicadas to chirp?

      That would explain the cicadas in Havana, explain why it could happen elsewhere where there are no cicadas, and point out that the cicada noise wasn't the cause.

      Some area effect that causes pain and damage to humans and, when present, cicadas as well.

  • Another zero evidence report about imaginary weapons.

    • Yeah, that happens a lot when RIghtards want another war.

  • Nah (Score:3)

    by wakeboarder ( 2695839 ) on Wednesday February 02, 2022 @09:57PM (#62232499)

    For sure, it was aliens.

    • It is much more likely to be aliens than Cubans.
      What could the Cubans possibly gain from attacking US diplomats with secret weapons?

      • Revenge.

        • Revenge is the reason the US is still imposing sanctions on Cuba 63 years after losing the civil war there. Cuba have had 63 years to take revenge but haven't, because what would they gain?

          • Face.

            • That is something only children care about, and the Cuban government are not children.

              • Cuban Government? Is that you? How's it goin, guys? You seem a little sensitive about the face saving. Maybe I hit a nerve.

                Every government on this planet cares about face.

                Wanna try again?

                • Cuba waited more than 60 years to get revenge and save face? Why?
                  Wanna try again?

                  • 60 years is nothing. Revenge has waited far longer. Personally I'm all for it considering the BS that is tied to the history of the US, Cuba, and Soviet Union/Russia. But I'm not your typical american stoogeboy. Just keep exporting those cigars and export that headache technology because it sounds neat.

                    You like that try?

  • Gesture of friendship (Score:3)

    by WaffleMonster ( 969671 ) on Wednesday February 02, 2022 @10:14PM (#62232531)

    My conspiracy theory Havana syndrome is caused by illumination of hidden listening devices by unfriendly intelligence agencies akin to oldschool resonate cavity bugs from the 40s.

    • Illumination of hidden listening devices by magic dark energy beams invisible to any modern instruments? One can only have this idea without even the slightest knowlegde of physics.

      There is nothing illuminated in these stories.

      • Illumination of hidden listening devices by magic dark energy beams invisible to any modern instruments?

        I was only going off of what the CNN article said.

        "
        The finding largely confirms a National Academies of Science report from late 2020 that found "directed, pulsed radio frequency energy" to be "the most plausible mechanism in explaining these cases
        "

        One can only have this idea without even the slightest knowlegde of physics.
        There is nothing illuminated in these stories.

        It has been done before.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

      • Kind of similar to RFID chips being energized by RF, then responding with a coded RF burst. A listening device could likewise be charged remotely by RF. Seems more plausible than an RF weapon. Tesla thought he could remotely power aircraft.

  • Check out ths site https://www.kcet.org/kcet-50th... [kcet.org] especially bottom photo.

    Shouldn't folks working up there have problems for all the EMF? I assume they don't even in an enviroment of hundreds of kilowatts of rf emissions. Also assume the local wildlife is ok too. Until someone can show how non ionizing radiation causes biological effects (other than heating), I would be skeptical of it affecting embassy people.

  • I wonâ(TM)t be the first to say it.

    In the race to block and muck all wireless transmission and detection someone built a box that spews energy across a wide spectrum⦠one that so happens to scrambles peopleâ(TM)s heads.

    But hey, at least your conversations didnâ(TM)t get eavesdropped on.

  • There's been TONS of research on EMP on humans, pulsed electromagnetic waves at different frequencies, etc. FFS they used magnets to stop my cancer in my head growing and make it shrink (for how long, who knows?), but literally there are videos and studies of how bad EMP can screw with people. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=... [youtube.com]

    • All of this nonsense can be measured easily. These reoccurring stories need a magic SciFi-Weapon that affects people but none of the devices the agencies would use to track it down.
      How perfidious of our enemy, how very convenient for us.

      • I can't believe I'm commenting in this thread. Why use EMP when ultrasonic weapons are known to work pretty well. An earlier poster commented about cicadas in Cuba being very loud. If I were a state actor who was going to use an ultrasonic weapon, I would fire it at my targets while the cicadas are also loud. People would think they have a headache from the cicadas and not think much about it until later when my operatives were long gone.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by syn3rg ( 530741 )

      they used magnets to stop my cancer in my head growing and make it shrink

      I'm glad to hear that; good to have you around.

  • Smart meters also use pulsed electromagnetic radiation.

  • Most likely embassies own equipment (Score:3)

    by Pravetz-82 ( 1259458 ) on Thursday February 03, 2022 @03:30AM (#62232973)
    This points to a side effect from equipment in the embassies.
    Probably a reflection of a radar signal or some secret radio transmitter. I guess it might be possible that a powerful enough radio signal could cause the steel reinforcement in concrete to vibrate and emit ultrasound. Could also be that the equipment itself generates ultrasound (like big transformers vibrate) and it propagates though the concrete in the building.
    I wonder, if they cross referenced the inventories between embassies, where cases where observed and the dates of the first reports from each place.

  • There is increasing evidence that "Havana Syndrome" doesn't actually exist. There is some evidence that people did get sick, possibly from insecticides, in Havana. Later cases are almost certainly pure hypochondria. So, sure, some magic pulses are as likely to cure it as anything else.

    I suspect the same is true of most "Long Covid". A couple of people had long-term complications due to clotting or whatever, the press makes a big deal of it, and suddenly lots of people come down with symptoms.

    Mind, these

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Viol8 ( 599362 )

      Long covid is just another type of post viral fatigue syndrome. Thats not to say it isn't real, it very much is, but its not the strange new affliction that its being made out to be.

      • The amount of research around post-viral fatigue syndrome has increased an order of magnitude since covid because it's much more common (or commonly reported) post-covid.
      • I doubt you'd be using the word "just" if you'd been suffering from long covid for the past couple of years.

    • You are mistaken.
      There is lots of evidence that it does exist, especially clearly visible brain damage on MRIs.

      And you come to the idea that your "special agencies" are too stupid to figure if something "exists" or not, is beyond me anyway.

    • oops (Score:2)

      by Kludge ( 13653 )

      Your post made a good bit of sense until you revealed your ignorance by commenting on Long COVID. Quite a few people who are hospitalized get it. COVID can really mess up people's lungs. I know a couple of previously healthy people who can't walk more than a few dozen meters without getting winded. They hate it and they're not faking it.

      • Another poster has pointed out that, given our covid research, we now know a lot more about post-viral fatigue. Covid seems to be brutal in that you can have lung damage and post-viral fatigue simultaneously which is like a double-whammy.

  • how it seems all impacted people work at a US embassy.
    could it be that some new spy equipment (see the newer ANT catalog) is generating this stuff ?

  • It's obvious that this is some chemical that some people have adverse reaction to. This is either a pesticide or a cleaning chemical that is used in all the US embassies around the world.

  • of kit that use micro waves and pulses etc in those building yet it has to be an outside source?

  • possible Havana Syndrome, a clinically vague illness that has long frustrated firm diagnosis because victims have suffered from such a diverse array of symptoms

    So ... "Agent Gulf War 5G Havana Syndrome".

    • In the case of the gulf war, Afghanistan, and other conflicts, there are well documented syndromes that arise mostly from the use of burn pits. But we don't have burn pits at embassies so there isn't likely to be a common cause.
  • The ARRL's 1998 book "RF Exposure and You" is available as a free PDF: http://www.arrl.org/files/file... [arrl.org] I read this book about 15 years ago and it's quite good. I'm not sure if there is a newer version.

  • After all, only the diplomats complain, never the cooks, waiters, janitors ...

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