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'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

bbc.com

11–20 of 91 posts

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#11

>Cases of the condition have been reported elsewhere in the world, but US officials say the numbers in Vienna are greater than in any other city apart from Havana. Hadn't heard it was this wide-spread. What are the chances their own security systems are at fault? If not, then at this scale couldn't thermal imaging spot something?

My guess would be it is their own security. "Elsewhere in the world" also includes New York City.

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#12
post #5

If this is an attack what’s the point of it. It’s not like it has any useful effects on anything either politically or militarily.

Causing fear. People probably don't want to be posted to embassies in Havana these days.

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#13
post #5

If this is an attack what’s the point of it. It’s not like it has any useful effects on anything either politically or militarily.

> what's the point of it the point is probably how every US diplomat around the globe probably goes to sleep every night thinking "I hope I wake up tomorrow with without permanent brain damage"

Are there any documented cases of permanent brain damage from these "attacks"?

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#14
post #10

So it is happening to US diplomats on two unrelated locations, which indicates that the common element is the US. What if it's as a result of a US spy-craft instrument/substance side effect that potentially was not disclosed to the diplomats who suffer?

What if they're jusg English speakers who saw the news and got food poisning (or who knows what)... Why is this such fertile ground for conspiracy theories? Is there some kind of assumption diplomats and spies never get sick with unidentied diseases like the rest of us?

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#15
post #4

When you have syndromes with a huge number of symptoms, including extremely common conditions, and the symptoms are largely untestable, relying on patient self-reporting, then you're going to catch a lot of people with these symptoms. This is the exact same thing with Long Covid, or Gulf War Syndrome. The most interesting thing about Havana Syndrome is that it apparently only affects English-speaking diplomats in Ame…

This is a reasonable hypothesis but do you have any more evidence for this than the others?

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#16
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what's the point of it the point is probably how every US diplomat around the globe probably goes to sleep every night thinking "I hope I wake up tomorrow with without permanent brain damage"

Are there any documented cases of permanent brain damage from these "attacks"?

Yes, that’s literally what the article is about.

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#17
post #5

If this is an attack what’s the point of it. It’s not like it has any useful effects on anything either politically or militarily.

> what's the point of it the point is probably how every US diplomat around the globe probably goes to sleep every night thinking "I hope I wake up tomorrow with without permanent brain damage"

The news stories alone accomplish that, no need to attack anyone/anyone else.

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#19
post #5

If this is an attack what’s the point of it. It’s not like it has any useful effects on anything either politically or militarily.

If there is an attack and not just hypochondriacs, I would consider it a form of terrorism. The main point is to make your enemies afraid; the physical damage done is a means to an end.

Re: 'Havana syndrome'-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats

#20
post #4

When you have syndromes with a huge number of symptoms, including extremely common conditions, and the symptoms are largely untestable, relying on patient self-reporting, then you're going to catch a lot of people with these symptoms. This is the exact same thing with Long Covid, or Gulf War Syndrome. The most interesting thing about Havana Syndrome is that it apparently only affects English-speaking diplomats in Ame…

> This is the exact same thing with Long Covid, or Gulf War Syndrome.

Is your example trying to argue that Havana syndrome isn't physiological? Because that what I get from your tone, but the data you provide argues the opposite.

Both times a collection of unrelated people reported consistently reported broad but similar/overlapping symptoms, and in both cases (Gulf War Syndrome, and Long Covid) they were later shown to be objectively legit even though they weren't taken as seriously at first.

It seems like the same thing with this - in my book its a bit too coincidental at this point. Not to mention happening all around the same time period in a new location.

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