The New York Times reports that sound may be a cause of a mysterious ailment infecting American diplomats and their families in China recently. This report comes after the 2016 case of American Embassy employees and their family members in Cuba falling ill with headaches, nausea, hearing loss, cognitive issues, and other symptoms after they reported hearing odd sounds. The result in Cuba was colder relations between the Cuban and U.S. governments. These new sound attacks come as U.S. leaders wonder if the Chinese are undermining relations with North Korea. The Times article seems to float the possibility that China or Russia could be responsible for the attacks. The article says "The injuries in Cuba, like those in China, followed disturbing sensations of sounds and vibrations that have been described variously as the noises made by cicadas, static, metal sheets waving or, in [one] case, marbles rolling around a metal funnel." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week he is creating a health care task force to examine “the unexplained health incidents that have affected a number of U.S. government personnel and family members stationed overseas.”