WHAT HAPPENED?

Diplomats Sue Canada Over Cuba Mystery Illnesses

Officials were recalled from Havana after complaining of dizziness and migraines like U.S. counterparts.

Canadian diplomats are suing their own government for C$28 million ($21.1 million) over the mystery illnesses they came down with while working at their embassy in Havana, Cuba. The BBC reports the group accuses the Canadian government of taking too long to warn, evacuate, and treat them after staff began falling ill in the spring of 2017. Canadian officials were recalled from Havana last April after complaining of dizziness and migraines. The cause of the illnesses, which also hit U.S. diplomats, is unknown but some believe they’re the result of “sonic attacks.” In a statement, the diplomats said: “Throughout the crisis, Canada downplayed the seriousness of the situation, hoarded and concealed critical health and safety information, and gave false, misleading, and incomplete information to diplomatic staff.” One unnamed diplomat told CBC: “My wife, she isn’t the same anymore... She has gaps in her memory, headaches, problems hearing. She picks up the telephone to make a call but forgets why, enters rooms without reason.” The U.S. withdrew most of its nonessential staff from the country in September 2017 and said 21 embassy employees were affected.

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