What to know about Havana Syndrome and a device that might be linked to it
Updated on: January 15, 2026 / 5:56 AM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- Havana Syndrome, also referred to as anomalous health incidents (AHIs), involves symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, memory problems, and impaired vision.
- Some affected individuals describe hearing intense, high-pitched sounds, which some believe are related to directed sonic or microwave attacks.
- Over 1,500 U.S. officials and their families have reported experiencing these incidents since 2016 in various countries.
- Incidents have occurred in locations such as Cuba, Vietnam, and China, impacting White House staff, CIA officers, and FBI agents.
- Experts and some victims suspect the use of a secret weapon utilizing high-energy microwaves or ultrasound.
- A 2024 House Intelligence Committee report challenged a 2023 U.S. intelligence assessment, suggesting foreign adversary involvement is increasingly likely.
- U.S. intelligence assessments on the cause of AHIs have been divided, with some agencies finding foreign involvement unlikely, while others suggest a possibility.
- A suspected link between attacks in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a Russian intelligence unit has been reported, along with evidence of acoustic weapons testing by the same unit.