US VP Kamala Harris delayed in Singapore over health scare

Bizarre 'Havana syndrome' has affected many Americans over the years

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan takes a selfie with US Vice President Kamala Harris. AFP

US Vice President Kamala Harris was set to depart for Hanoi from Singapore on Tuesday evening after meeting business leaders to discuss supply chain issues and delivering a speech in which she scolded China for its incursions into the South China Sea.

Her flight, however, was delayed several hours by a “recent possible anomalous health incident”, the US embassy in Hanoi said.

That term is the way the US government usually refers to the mysterious Havana syndrome that has sickened hundreds of US officials over the past few years.

A productive day in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/RxIj3fUPMw

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 23, 2021

It was not clear who had been affected by the anomalous health incident.

“This has nothing to do with the vice president's health,” said Symone Sanders, Ms Harris’s chief representative.

The US embassy in Hanoi issued a statement after Ms Harris departed Singapore.

“Earlier this evening, the vice president’s travelling 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,” the embassy said.

“After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the vice president’s trip.”

Aboard Air Force Two, Ms Sanders said that Ms Harris is “well, all is fine, and looking forward to meetings in Hanoi tomorrow".

Updated: August 24th 2021, 4:38 PM