The U.S. State Department is launching a pilot program to medically screen some diplomats and their family members before they travel overseas in a bid to investigate reports of unexplained health incidents experienced by American government officials abroad, according to officials familiar with the matter and internal State Department communications.
Commonly referred to as Havana syndrome, the phenomenon has perplexed officials and defied explanation for years as U.S. personnel overseas and in Washington have reported a range of symptoms including dizziness, vertigo, and persistent headaches, while some have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. The new program is aimed at creating a baseline of health information for volunteers at the State Department on a first-come, first-serve basis before they go to overseas diplomatic posts.
