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By Gary Raynaldo  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

Canada will reduce up to half of the Canadians at its embassy in Cuba after another diplomat fell mysteriously sick, authorities in Ottawa announced Wednesday.  Canada’s foreign office said the number of staff will now be cut by up to half after a reappearance of the unusual illness that  was first reported in 2017.  Twenty-six workers at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba have also been affected, suffering a range of symptoms and diagnoses including mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion.  The Canadian government said  that following the last confirmed case of unusual health symptoms in November 2018, a number of Canadian diplomatic staff posted to Havana underwent additional medical testing. These tests confirm that an additional employee has symptoms consistent with those of previously affected employees. This brings the total number of affected Canadian employees, spouses and dependents to 14.

“In addition to revised security measures already initiated by the Canadian government, we have decided to reduce by up to half the number of Canadian staff posted to Havana. The health, safety and security of our diplomatic staff and their families remain our priority. The Canadian government continues to investigate the potential causes of the unusual health symptoms experienced by some Canadian diplomatic staff and their family members posted in Havana, Cuba. To date, no cause has been identified.”   

Government of  Canada Statement    Jan. 30, 2019. 

The government stated that Canada will continue to have an embassy in Havana, Cuba, headed by an ambassador. Full consular services will be available to Canadians in Cuba. However, some other programs may be adjusted in the coming weeks.  The government also said there is no evidence that Canadian travellers to Cuba are at risk. Canadian travellers should continue to consult the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories for the latest updates. Consular assistance continues to be provided from Havana, Varadero and Guardalavaca.  “Canada has a positive and constructive relationship with Cuba. We have had close cooperation with the Cuban authorities since the health concerns of our employees posted in Havana first surfaced in the spring 2017,”  the government stated.

  Twenty-six workers at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba have also been affected with mystery illness 

Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / U.S. Embassy located in Havana, Cuba.

The United States reduced embassy staffing in Cuba to a maximum of 18 from more than 50 after more than two dozen personnel developed unusual illnesses.