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Some described hearing a mysterious sound like “sheet metal in the wind” just before their noses began to bleed.

At the time, the Canadian diplomats posted in Cuba didn’t know what to make of it, says the Ottawa doctor now treating many of them for acquired brain injuries.

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Today, some of the injured diplomats are struggling to cope with daily life, while others have been able to return to work, said Dr. Shawn Marshall, medical director of The Ottawa Hospital’s acquired brain injury rehabilitation program.

They have all reported a range of symptoms consistent with traumatic head injuries, from dizziness and difficulty walking to headaches and an inability to concentrate.

They are among 13 Canadian diplomats, staff and family members suffering from the kinds of symptoms that usually appear in patients with post-concussion syndrome, although none of them suffered any physical trauma.