Joel Achenbach, The Washington Post Published 3:12 pm, Friday, June 8, 2018 Something mysterious and disturbing has happened to State Department personnel, first in Cuba and now in China. Strange high-pitched sounds - "buzzing," "piercing squeals," "grinding metal," as the Cuba staffers later told doctors - preceded an eruption of health problems, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, ear pain, hearing loss, insomnia and fatigue. Last year, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson referred to what happened in Havana as "attacks." Numerous news stories and opinion columns speculated about "sonic attacks" using some kind of unknown acoustic weapon. The mystery spread this spring to China: A staffer in Guangzhou experienced "subtle and vague, but abnormal sensations of sound and pressure," in the words of the State Department. Days ago the department issued a health alert to staff in that country, telling anyone who experiences "any unusual acute auditory or sensory … [Read more...] about Controversy surrounds research on State Department employees sickened in ‘attacks’
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2 individuals from U.S. embassy in Cuba undergoing medical evaluation, State Department says
Two individuals from the U.S. embassy in Cuba are undergoing medical evaluation, a State Department official told CBS News on Friday. The two people could be suffering from the mysterious illness plaguing diplomats, but that has not been medically confirmed. Two officials told the Associated Press the individuals have been brought for testing to the University of Pennsylvania, where doctors have been evaluating, treating and studying Americans affected in Cuba last year as well as almost 10 new possible cases from a U.S. consulate in China. Mystery deepens over Americans' illness in China The officials weren't authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. If confirmed by doctors to have the same condition, the two individuals would mark the 25th and 26th confirmed patients from the bizarre incidents in Cuba that were first disclosed last year and have been deemed "specific attacks" by the U.S. government. The United States has said it doesn't know who is … [Read more...] about 2 individuals from U.S. embassy in Cuba undergoing medical evaluation, State Department says
Pompeo’s State Department Cracks Down on Leakers
Top State Department officials recently launched a crackdown on suspect leakers, with spokeswoman Heather Nauert leading the charge in grilling possible culprits. The move was prompted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s frustration over several news articles after he took over the department from Rex Tillerson.Reports revealing a six-month role extension of Brett McGurk, a Special Presidential Envoy appointed by former President Barack Obama and allegations of the State Department “slow-rolling Palestinian funding,” were among the leaks that ticked Pompeo off the most. A senior State Department official tells Axios that preventing sensitive information from getting out prematurely is crucial. “Leaks of internal deliberations on matters involving this most sensitive region have a debilitating effect on our prosecution of foreign policy,” the official said. “Most diplomats working on these issues support any effort … [Read more...] about Pompeo’s State Department Cracks Down on Leakers
State Department Expands Health Alert For All Of China Amid Reports Of Mysterious Illness
POLITICS 06/08/2018 01:28 am ET The malady resembles a brain injury that affected U.S. personnel in Cuba. BEIJING (Reuters) - The State Department on Friday issued an expanded health alert for all of China amid reports some U.S. diplomats based in the country had experienced a mysterious malady that resembles a brain injury and has already affected U.S. personnel in Cuba. A previous statement in May only mentioned the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as the location for the health alert, though it was sent to U.S. citizens throughout the country. The State Department had confirmed earlier that one U.S. employee assigned to the consulate in Guangzhou had “suffered a medical incident,” and that it had deployed a team to screen employees and family members there. BREAKING: U.S. embassy sends second health alert to Americans in China. This one confirms possible link to Cuba cases. pic.twitter.com/a9SF6YzHbT— Emily Rauhala (@emilyrauhala) June 8, 2018 On … [Read more...] about State Department Expands Health Alert For All Of China Amid Reports Of Mysterious Illness
Number of US Diplomats In China Hit By Mystery Illness: State Department
Jun 07, 3:57 AM EDT Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury World By Reuters 06/07/18 AT 3:14 AM The U.S. State Department has brought a group of diplomats home from Guangzhou, China, over concerns they were suffering from a mysterious malady that resembles a brain injury and has already affected U.S. personnel in Cuba, its spokeswoman said on Wednesday.After confirming one government employee had “suffered a medical incident” in the southern Chinese city, the department deployed a team to screen employees and family members at its consulate there, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.“As a result of the screening process so far, the department has sent a number of individuals for further evaluation and a comprehensive assessment of their symptoms and findings in the United States,” Nauert said.“Medical professionals will continue to conduct full evaluations to determine the cause of the … [Read more...] about Number of US Diplomats In China Hit By Mystery Illness: State Department