Bat curry still a hit in Indonesia amid COVID-19 scare

Indonesians continue to enjoy dishes made from bat meat, which has recently been found to have links to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), despite the global outbreak.

Situation reports by the World Health Organization noted the mounting evidence pointing to links between bats—especially the subspecies rhinolophus—and COVID-19, according to a Wednesday report on 24 Oras by Mark Salazar.

The rhinolophus is commonly found in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southern China, and Asia.

Despite the scientific evidence, Indonesians continue to relish in dishes made from bat meat such as bat curry due to their belief that it helps cure asthma.

Bat soup is also popular in Palau while bat spit coffee is well-loved in Madagascar.

Even in the Philippines, grilled bat meat is a delicacy in some provinces.

Experts from the Department of Health warned the public that the meat of bats and other wild animals may be dangerous to their health and lead to different illnesses. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News