Anhana Ahuja, Financial Times

First came the mysterious sound — then the diplomatic fury. When a group of US embassy workers fell ill in Havana, Cuba, after rumoured “sonic attacks”, staff were recalled and travel advice toughened up. The peculiar episode raises the question: can sound be weaponised? The diplomats started falling victim to the mystery malaise in December 2016. It has now emerged that those affected displayed symptoms commonly associated with concussion, even though none had any history of head injury. These included headaches, balance issues, cognitive problems and hearing loss. The findings appeared last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Interestingly, the medics signed non-disclosure agreements.

The diplomats started falling victim to the mystery malaise in December 2016. It has now emerged that those affected displayed symptoms commonly associated with concussion, even though none had any history of head injury. These included headaches, balance issues, cognitive problems and hearing loss. The findings appeared last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Interestingly, the medics signed non-disclosure agreements.