Scientists Find What Caused ‘Havana Syndrome’ That Affected Diplomats in Cuba – It Wasn’t Sonic Weapons

 


Dr A L O N Friedman, MD, of B-E N-G U R I-O N University of the Negev (BGU) and D-A L H O U S I-E University Brain Repair Center in Nova Scotia, Canada, lead a new interdisciplinary study on the "Havana Syndrome" that suggests that neurologic symptoms among Canadian diplomats who lived in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 may have been brought on by excessive exposure to pesticides. This is the first study of its kind that focuses on diplomats from Canada. 


The symptoms, which were first reported in Cuba and initially believed to be acoustic attacks on US and Canadian embassy staff, were referred to as the "Havana Syndrome". Since August 2017, there have been reports that American and Canadian diplomats in Cuba have been experiencing a variety of health issues, including difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and memory and balance issues. 


Dr Friedman decided to discuss his research with the Canadian Broadcasting Service before it was published in a peer-reviewed journal.  The Canadian Broadcasting Service obtained a leaked draft of a report to the Canadian government from an unidentified source. This was done to ensure that Dr Friedman and his team's findings are correctly interpreted and comprehended. 


On Thursday, October 27, the research will be presented at the Breaking the Barriers of Brain Science Symposium in New York. The paper is available for download. 


The study describes the nature of the injury and the brain regions that are affected, including the blood-brain barrier, and suggests "cholinesterase inhibitors" as a possible cause, with "organophosphates insecticides" being a likely source. One of the essential enzymes needed for the nervous systems of humans, invertebrates, and insects is cholinesterase (Ch-E)


Altogether, there were 26 Canadian members. The study included people who didn't live in Cuba, as well as 23 Canadian diplomats and their families who lived in Havana. 


According to Dr Friedman, "We were also able to test several of the subjects before and after they returned from Cuba". The brain was definitely altered while they were in Havana, as our team observed. 


The findings of the study are attributed by Dr Friedman and his team to multidisciplinary and quantitative research methods, particularly their use of cutting-edge brain imaging tools like advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. 


Dr Friedman stated, "We followed the science, and with each discovery, we asked ourselves more questions". We were able to perform specific biochemical and toxicological blood tests and come to the conclusion that the most likely cause of the injury was repeated exposure to neurotoxins because of the precise location of the brain injury. 


Neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, audio-vestibular, ophthalmology, toxicology, and even veterinary medicine were among the participating researchers' fields of study. 


Dr Friedman stated, "The study validates the need for us to continue learning more about the use of pesticides and other toxins". It is a global health problem that demonstrates how little we know about the health effects of toxins


A Global Affairs Canada collaborated with the Nova Scotia Health Authority to request and fund the study. Dr Friedman's group at BGU and Dr S H M I R from Hebrew University's KO R A-T School of Veterinary Medicine also participated in the study.  


An example: Havana Syndrome in Diplomats from Canada: A L O N Friedman, Cynthia C-A L K I-N, Amanda Adams, Guillermo A R-I S T-I Suarez, Tim B A R D O U-I L-I E, N O 

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