07 June 2018•Update: 07 June 2018
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
"A number of" U.S. diplomatic staff in China suffering mysterious ailments similar to what their counterparts in Cuba have endured have been evacuated from the country, the State Department said Wednesday.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement that the personnel, whom she did not give a tally for or otherwise identify, have been sent to the U.S. "for further evaluation and a comprehensive assessment of their symptoms".
Additional staff at the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, China "who have noted concerning symptoms or wanted baseline screening" are undergoing medical evaluation, Nauert said.
The individuals already sent back to the U.S. are the latest known staff members to be suffering from symptoms U.S. officials originally identified on their diplomatic staff in Cuba.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month an incident involving a U.S. government employee in China was "entirely consistent" with suspected attacks on American diplomatic staff in Cuba.
The suspected "attacks" experienced by American personnel in Cuba beginning in 2016 continue to be shrouded in mystery after two dozen U.S. diplomats and their family members reported experiencing a range of symptoms including hearing loss, vertigo and disorientation, usually after hearing a high-pitched sound.
On Tuesday, Pompeo announced the formation of an interagency task force to get to the bottom of the now multi-continent cases, and Nauert said it "will continue to address the unexplained health incidents that have affected U.S. government personnel and their family members stationed overseas".
The U.S. drew down the vast majority of its diplomatic staff in Cuba following the incidents in 2016, leaving only the minimum number of personnel in the country as ties between Washington and Havana deteriorated.
Cuba has adamantly denied any involvement as the U.S. continues to investigate the still unexplained incidents. Washington has not yet signaled it will take similar action to address the spate of incidents arising in China.
