20 May 2023

Robert Bartholomew: what caused Havana Syndrome

From Saturday Morning, 11:05 am on 20 May 2023
Robert Bartholomew, co-author of 'Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria'.

Robert Bartholomew, co-author of 'Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria'. Photo: Auckland University

Between 2016 and 2018, dozens of North American diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba, reported an array of health complaints which coincided with hearing strange sounds.

A theory emerged that the officers were been harassed by a sonic weapon.  

After several years and tens of millions of dollars spent investigating, US Intelligence have concluded the condition dubbed ‘Havana Syndrome’ is a myth. The sound has been identified as the mating call of the Indies short-tailed cricket.

A sociologist specialising in mass hysteria and social panics, Robert Bartholomew is the co-author with Robert Balohof of 2020 book Havana Syndrome.

The US embassy in Havana, Cuba Photo: supplied

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