US confirms new mystery 'attack' on diplomat in Cuba

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. confirmed Thursday another member of its diplomatic staff has fallen ill with mystery ailments that have affected its personnel in two continents.

The State Department said a diplomat working in Havana, Cuba, has suffered "health effects similar to" what officials originally thought were "sonic attacks" targeting diplomatic staff on the island nation.

It is the second confirmed case this month following another that was confirmed last Thursday. Both officers were affected at the same time in late May when they were at a diplomatic residence, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

They are the first "medically-confirmed" cases in Cuba since Aug. 27, 2017.

In all, 26 American diplomats have suffered the mystery ailments in Cuba, according to the department.

The U.S. drew down the vast majority of its diplomatic staff in Cuba following the incidents that began in 2016, leaving only the bare minimum number of personnel in the country as ties between Washington and Havana deteriorated.

Cuba has adamantly denied any involvement as the U.S. and Cuba continue to investigate the still unexplained incidents.

The State Department said it informed the Cuban government of the "attack" May 29 and warned Havana "of its responsibility under the Vienna Convention to protect our diplomats."

The victims reported hearing loss, headaches and dizziness after hearing a strange high-pitched sound. At least 21 Americans suffered permanent hearing loss and mild brain damage.

And at least five Canadian diplomats serving in Cuba and their families have also reported suffering similar effects.

The mystery widened in May when the U.S. confirmed a similar case at its consulate in Guangzhou, China. An undisclosed number of additional diplomatic staff were sent back to the U.S. for additional testing in early June following preliminary testing in China.

The U.S. has formed an interagency task force to get to the bottom of the now multi-continent cases, but has yet to publicly announce any progress in determining the nature of the incidents, or who might be responsible for them.