As Ebola scourges Congo, experts warn of link to the consumption of 'wild meat'

Kinshasa’s Masina Market sells a surprising variety of wild foods—from baskets of squirming caterpillars to giant rodents, snakes and antelope—some of which even appear on trendy restaurant menus.
Wild meat (viande de brousse) is a cultural staple and primary source of animal protein across the Congo Basin, supporting many livelihoods despite laws protecting endangered species.
Ongoing Ebola outbreaks, often linked to hunting or butchering wildlife, haven’t stopped demand, making public-health and conservation conversations especially fraught.