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In recent weeks, a mysterious fog with a distinct chemical odor has enveloped multiple U.S. states, causing health concerns among residents and fueling bioweapon theories, especially following numerous drone sightings in the affected areas.

The fog has been observed in various states, including California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Concerned citizens have shared videos and reports on social media.

In a viral TikTok video posted last year, David Bamber from St. Petersburg, Florida, wrote the fog “tastes and smells like after setting off a lot of fireworks. That sulfur smell.”

“It’s crazy foggy right now, but that’s not the weird part. Number one, it’s weird because, as it gets later in the day, fog should lighten and dissipate—and it’s really not. But the weirdest part is the taste and smell,” Bamber said in the video, which amassed 3 million views.

“It smells like after you set off a bunch of fireworks, and the taste of the air is… I mean, the only word I can think of is toxic. It’s super weird. I’m going for my walk, and it’s worrying me a little bit… That’s weird. Yeah, it smells not right. I’m 41. I’ve been through fog. This is something different,” he added.

In a separate video, Bamber said, “It smells like chemicals going down my throat when I breathe.”

@david_bamberIt tastes and smells like after setting off a lot of fireworks. That sulfur smell. Anyone else expereicning something like this? Kinda freaking me out.♬ original sound – It’s all a dream

Residents also have reported experiencing flu-like symptoms after brief exposure to the fog.

One Florida individual recounted sneezing, eye swelling, fever, and stomach cramps after being outside in the fog for just 10 minutes in an interview with Daily Mail.

“Within about and hour, I kept sneezing over and over for about three hours, and my eyes were really puffy,” she said. “I got very warm and I felt like I had a fever, and my stomach was cramping.”

Here’s another video in Florida:

A woman in Kansas told the Daily Mail that “massive amounts of chemtrails” over the area last week, which were followed by a dense fog.

The situation has led to a resurgence of theories reminiscent of “Operation Sea-Spray,” a 1950 biological warfare experiment by the U.S. Navy that resulted in illness and one death.

More from the Daily Mail:

A thick, ‘mysterious’ fog has descended upon a wide swath of the US, sparking fears of another ‘Operation Sea Spray.’

For one week in September of 1950, the US Navy sprayed massive amounts of bacteria into the air two miles off the coast of San Francisco, California.

The aim of this secret biological warfare experiment was to learn how vulnerable large US cities like San Francisco would be to a biowarfare attack by terrorists.

The bacteria used were Serratia marcescens, which can cause respiratory issues and meningitis, and Bacillus atrophaeus that can be lethal immunocompromised individuals.  At the time, the Navy believed these bacteria were harmless to humans.

But when Bay Area residents began rushing to the hospital, it became clear that was not the case.

After inhaling thousands of bacterial spores, 11 people checked into Stanford Hospital near San Francisco with very rare, serious urinary tract infections that doctors ultimately determined were caused by the experiment.

One patient, a man named Edward Nevin who was recovering from prostate surgery at the time, died.

Experts, however, offer natural explanations for the phenomenon.

Fog itself is composed of tiny water droplets and is typically odorless. However, it can absorb pollutants and odors present in the surrounding air, leading to noticeable smells.

“When fog forms, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and other polluting gases are taken up or ‘scavenged’ by fog water droplets,” explained Rudolf Husar, an atmospheric scientist at Washington University, in an article for NASA Earth Observatory.

If you encounter fog with an unusual smell, it’s advisable to limit exposure, especially if you experience any discomfort or health symptoms.