West Africa's Ebola outbreak prompts changes in I.Coast cuisine

YAHOO ^ | 04/20/14

[BunnySlippers]

Late in March, Health Minister Raymonde Goudou Coffie called for her compatriots to stop eating porcupines and agoutis, which look like large river-rats, "until we can be sure there are no risks".

Bushmeat is known to be a vector of Ebola, the alarming haemorrhagic fever that has claimed at least 122 lives in Guinea, according to a UN World Health Organisation toll on April 17. Liberia, meanwhile, reports 13 deaths.

Hunters and restaurant owners in the central Ivorian town of Bouake are upset that clients have begun to steer clear of the strong taste of the agouti, a beast with a long snout and brown fur that can reach half a metre (1.6 feet) in length.

Last week, the minister's recommendation was still going unheeded or ignored by some traders and hunters in Bouake's main bushmeat market. One hunter openly carried a dead rodent.

[BunnySlippers]

Everyplace that ebola has taken hold, the populace eats bats and rats as their main food source. Son't believe those that tell you ebola is right at your doorstep.

[BunnySlippers]

[BunnySlippers]

Ebola is NOT on it’s way unless yu are eating infected roadkill.

[dennisw]

Roadkill is bushmeat here. we eat that stuff too

[ConorMacNessa]

AHHH!!!

I'm doomed!

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[dennisw]

They don’t own automobiles so not very much roadkill there

[BunnySlippers]

Are you eatting bats, rare and other stuff like this?

[Frank_2001]

I sense a good opportunity for someone to open up a Mickey D’s here! ;)

[ConorMacNessa]

LOL!

Actually, I'm not sure about what I've eaten. I lived in the Orient as an adolescent - they said it was venison - not so sure about that.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Cronos]

Well, are agoutis rats or another breed of rodent? Just like guinea pigs or bunny :) rabbits? Are the latter ones dangerous too if wild ones are eaten? I dint know, just asking

[jonrick46]

Saudi Arabia is a big consumer of camel meat. In Saudi Arabia, an outbreak of the MERS-CoV virus (the Middle East Respiratory Syndromeis) is causing alarm. This disease is contagious to other beings and the respiratory infections are so severe, most people die from it. The main carrier of MERS-CoV virus is in camel meat that was infected by bats. Both the Ebola virus and the MERS-CoV virus are spread by contaminated meat.

[dennisw]

Send Andrew Zimmerman there to test the cuisine. I see fish and chicken on the menu which should be edible. I’ll skip the bats and rodents

[Georgia Girl 2]

Bat Stew Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm!