WASHINGTON: The US State Department confirmed on Friday that 24 people have suffered health effects from “attacks” in Cuba earlier this year against diplomatic personnel and that an investigation is ongoing.

“We cant rule out additional new cases as medical professionals continue to ev­­aluate members of the em­­bassy community,” spo­kes­person Heather Nauert said in a statement.

Two more government wor­kers are confirmed victims in the unexplained Cuba attacks.

But State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says the new victims “do not reflect new attacks.” She says the additional victims were confirmed following medical evaluations of workers attacked earlier in the year. Nauert says the most recent attack is still believed to have been near the end of August.

A US official said previously that attack occurred Aug 21. The official wasn’t authorised to disclose the exact date and requested anonymity.

The State Department says it can’t rule out “additional new cases.” The attacks sta­r­ted last year and affected American diplomats, intelligence officials and their spou­­ses in Havana.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017