Havana Syndrome : Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria

It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the “attack” on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome.” This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11-chapters which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness. A lively and enthralling read, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th century cases of “telephone shock,” and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints. The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks. Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness. Foreword I Foreword II Contents About the Authors 1: Chasing Ghosts in Cuba Havana ‘Syndrome’ Unmasked The Curious Case of Chris Allen The Press Briefing Ever-Increasing Circles The Alarming Discovery of White Matter Changes Skepticism December 2017: The Cuban Sonic Investigation Committee Findings References 2: The Crisis Deepens The JAMA Fiasco Dismissing Mass Hysteria The Golden Investigation Spectacle in Miami Ear-Witness Testimony The Context: Ghosts of the Cold War Past From Sonic Attacks to Microwaves References 3: Canadian Contagion 60 Minutes Enters the Fray Unsound Science: The Second JAMA Study The Canadian Fumigation Study Mixing of Politics and Science References 4: Psychogenic Illness on the Battlefield: From the Civil War to Gulf War Syndrome The U.S. Civil War The First World War World War II and Traumatic Neurosis The Korean and Vietnam Wars Concussion-Like Symptoms in Afghanistan and Iraq The Persian Gulf War References 5: Mass Hysteria Through the Ages: From St. Vitus Dance to Mystery Odors The Middle Ages Saint-Médard Pilgrim Outbreak The Modern Era of Secular Outbreaks The Power of Belief The Power of an Idea: ‘Fried’ Mail and ‘Bad’ Coke The Belgian Coca-Cola Scare Recurrent Themes Laughing Mania The Resurgence of Motor Hysteria in the West References 6: Musical Illness and Telephone Sickness: An Early History of Sound and Suggestion The Curious Case of the Glass Armonica Telephone Sickness Acoustic Shock Today References 7: Modern-Day Acoustical Scares: From ‘The Hum’ to ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’ The Devon Zoo Giraffe Saga The Hummers Wind Turbine Syndrome A Social ‘Illness’ References 8: Phantom Assailants: Mad Gassers, Phantom Slashers, and Other Believed-in Imaginings Mad Gassers The Mad Gasser of Virginia The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Illinois Voodoo Assailants Phantom Slashers and Monsters The Montreal ‘Slasher’ Monkey Man ‘Attacks’ in India ‘Attack’ at Frog Hollow References 9: A Short History of Spider, Insect, and Worm Scares The ‘June Bug’ Scare Bug Scares Social Panics: From Kissing Bugs to Cabbage Worms The Seattle Windshield Pitting ‘Epidemic’ The American Cabbage Worm Panic Earthworm! References 10: State Terrorism Masquerading as Psychogenic Illness Pseudo-Poisonings in the Middle East Tainted Chewing Gum Panics Other Pseudo-Poisonings Kosovo Afghanistan References 11: The Social Construction of ‘Havana Syndrome’ Sonic Weapons and Science Fiction A Pattern Emerges Historical Parallels Common Misperceptions References Index It Is One Of The Most Extraordinary Cases In The History Of Science: The Mating Calls Of Insects Were Mistaken For A “sonic Weapon” That Led To A Major Diplomatic Row. Since August 2017, The World Media Has Been Absorbed In The “attack” On Diplomats From The American And Canadian Embassies In Cuba. While Physicians Treating Victims Have Described It As A Novel And Perplexing Condition That Involves An Array Of Complaints Including Brain Damage, The Authors Present Compelling Evidence That Mass Psychogenic Illness Was The Cause Of “havana Syndrome.” This Mysterious Condition That Has Baffled Experts Is Explored Across 11-chapters Which Offer Insights By A Prominent Neurologist And An Expert On Psychogenic Illness. A Lively And Enthralling Read, The Authors Explore The History Of Similar Scares From The 18th Century Belief That Sounds From Certain Musical Instruments Were Harmful To Human Health, To 19th Century Cases Of “telephone Shock,” And More Contemporary Panics Involving People Living Near Wind Turbines That Have Been Tied To A Variety Of Health Complaints. The Authors Provide Dozens Of Examples Of Kindred Episodes Of Mass Hysteria Throughout History, In Addition To Psychosomatic Conditions And Even The Role Of Insects In Triggering Outbreaks. Havana Syndrome: The Real Story Behind The Embassy Mystery Illness And Modern-day Hysteria Is A Scientific Detective Story And A Case Study In The Social Construction Of Mass Psychogenic Illness. It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the “attack” on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome.” __Havana Syndrome:____Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria__ is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness.