The curious case of 'Havana Syndrome'

The U.S. embassy in Cuba restarted full service earlier this month. It closed for nearly six years after staff got sick in what the Central Intelligence Agency called “anomalous health incidents.”

Approximately two dozen American diplomats in Havana, Cuba, first heard piercing, metallic hissing in 2016. They began experiencing nausea, vertigo, headaches, and other cognitive ailments. But doctors haven’t figured out what could have been making them sick.

Theories include the use of sonic weapons launched by foreign actors like Russia. The CIA has dismissed that idea, saying most cases of “Havana Syndrome” actually stem from other pre-existing medical conditions. Still, the CIA says some cases are unexplainable.

The new investigative podcast “The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome” explores what we know about this mysterious illness – and what questions remain.

Journalist Nicky Woolf walks listeners through the international story and theories of what happened.