Havana Syndrome UPSC Perspective
Source : Indian Express
GS III : Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Background

In late 2016, US diplomats and other employees stationed in Havana reported feeling ill after hearing strange sounds and experiencing odd physical sensations.

Why in News ?

Recently, two US officials have shown symptoms of a mystery illness that is linked to Havana Syndrome. The number of reported cases of possible attack is sharply growing.

• The National Security Council is leading the investigation.
• U.S. government of long failing to take the problem seriously or provide the necessary medical care and benefits.

Key Facts

• The problem has been labeled the Havana Syndrome because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.
• Havana syndrome”, started to afflict American diplomats and intelligence operatives in Cuba, China, and other countries based on a report in 2020.
• The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) has found directed microwave radiation from an Microwave Weapon to be its possible cause.

What is Havana Syndrome ?

• Affected have reported headaches, dizziness and symptoms consistent with concussions, with some requiring months of medical treatment.
• Some have reported hearing a loud noise before the sudden onset of symptoms.
• In general the symptoms include nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties.
• chronic problems suffered by Havana personnel included mainly vestibular processing and cognitive problems as well as insomnia and headache.
• The effects have lingered and posed a significant obstacle to their work and affected normal functioning of lives.
• Among all the victims, not everyone reported the same symptoms.
• Psychogenic origin Possibility
  • Propose that the syndrome is an example of a mass psychogenic illness.
  • Originating from a nervous system disturbance involving excitation, loss, or alteration of function, whereby physical complaints that are exhibited unconsciously.
  • The common symptoms are the same experience by the affected persons in Havana Syndrome.

About the Report

• An assessment of illness in US government employees and their families at overseas embassies.
• Done by a committee of 19 experts in medicine and other fields examined.
• The experts examined the symptoms of about 40 government employees.
• Four possibilities to explain the symptoms
  • Infection, chemicals, psychological factors and microwave energy
• Directed pulsed RF energy appears to be the most plausible mechanism in explaining these cases.
• The source of energy transmission has however not yet been mentioned in the report.
• Report also warns about the possibility of future episodes and recommends that the State Department establish a response mechanism for similar incidents.
• A 2019 US academic study found “brain abnormalities” in the diplomats who had fallen ill.

What is a Microwave ?

• Microwave is a form of electromagnetic radiation.
• It has a wavelengths ranging from about one meter to one millimeter.
• Microwaves are widely used in modern technology like wireless networks, radar, satellite and spacecraft communication, remote sensing, radio astronomy, industrial heating, for cooking food in microwave ovens.

What is a Microwave Weapon ?

• Microwave weapons are supposed to be a type of direct energy weapons, which aim highly focused energy in the form of sonic, laser, or microwaves, at a target.
  • Applications of this technology include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles, and optical devices
• People exposed to high intensity microwave pulses have reported a clicking or buzzing sound, as if seeming to be coming from within your head.
• It can have both acute and long term effects without leaving signs of physical damage.
• These weapons are a cause of concern as they can affect both machines and human beings.
• Radio-frequency weapons are largely unknown and untested those who undergone attack may not even know they are under attack.

Countries possessing Microwave Weapon

• U.S. has developed microwave weapons to shoot down drones, or as non-lethal crowd control devices.
• China had first displayed its microwave weapon called Poly WB-1, at an air show in 2014.
  • There are also reports that China might have used microwaves against Indian troops in 2020.
• Iran and Turkey claim to have directed energy weapons in active service.
• India is also developing Direct Energy Weapons.
• directed-energy weapons are still at the experimental stage.

National Academies of Sciences
* It is a non-profit, Government Organisation in the United States of America.
* NAS was founded in 1863 as a result of an Act of Congress, which was approved by Abraham Lincoln.
* The organisation offers its reports to the Government with regard to the Science and Technology projects.
* National Academies also encourage education and research.
* The Academy receives no compensation from the government for its services.

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Footnote
Havana Syndrome UPSC Prelism : Microwave and application
Havana Syndrome UPSC Prelism : Focus on the impact