The visit of Vice President Kamala Harris to Vietnam on Tuesday was interrupted by a report of a “anomalous health incident,” the US embassy in Hanoi said in a statement, the latest case of the mysterious onset of medical symptoms known as “Havana syndrome.”
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by a “recent possible anomalous health incident,” the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said.
The U.S. government uses that phrase to describe what’s known as “Havana syndrome,” a series of unexplained health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 and 2017.
Vietnam is the most recent country where a mysterious incident has been reported.
Although no cause has been identified, similar unexplained health issues have been reported by Americans serving in diplomatic positions in other countries.
Harris was scheduled to leave for Hanoi on Tuesday evening after delivering a speech in Singapore criticising China for its incursions into the South China Sea and meeting with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues.
However, the flight was delayed for more than three hours, and Harris’ chief spokesperson, Symone Sanders, refused to explain why. Sanders stated unprompted that Harris was “fine,” despite the fact that reporters had seen the vice president several times on Tuesday and had no reason to be concerned about her health.
Questions were directed to the State Department by Harris’ office. Following Harris’ departure from Singapore, the US Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement.
“Earlier this evening, the Vice President’s traveling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the Vice President’s office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi, Vietnam. After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the Vice President’s trip.”
The cause of the unexplained health incidents, which now number over 130 possible cases, is unknown, perplexing US officials amid multiple investigations and task forces led by the CIA, State Department, and National Security Council, which is leading a government-wide investigation.
