US pays out $3m to victims of mysterious Havana Syndrome

US pays out $3m to victims of mysterious Havana SyndromeImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The syndrome was first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba in 2016ByDearbail JordanPublishedJust nowThe US government has paid nearly $3m (£2.2m) in compensation to victims of so-called Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological condition reported by spies, diplomats and their families.The payments are the first to be made to US agency staff in relation to the illness, reports of which began emerging a decade ago by CIA officers working in the Cuban capital.Since then, American staff based elsewhere, including China, have reported "anomalous health incidents".Sufferers have described symptoms such as hearing a low hum, clicks, squeals and "grinding metal" while others reported intense pressure on the skull, dizziness and nausea.Is Havana Syndrome really real?If a sonic weapon exists, who owns it and what are they doing with it?Listen on SoundsThe US Department of Defence said it would continue to prioritise "the care of affected personnel" as it announced the compensation, paid out under the Havana Act which was signed into law in 2021.There has been widespread speculation for many years over what - and who - is responsible for Havana Syndrome. Some have claimed the illness is caused by microwaves, prompting further speculation that a foreign power may have used some kind of sonar weapon to attack US overseas staff and their dependants. "My brain is broken," former CIA analyst Erika Stith told CBS News in 2022, external."We got this as a result of serving our country. And we deserve to be taken care of," she said.Last year, most US intelligence agencies and departments surmised that it was "very unlikely" that a foreign actor used "a novel weapon or prototype device to harm" US personnel and their families.Although, a small component of the US intelligence community did not completely dismi...