Tourists in Bali have been issued with renewed advice on the rising risk of rabies on the island.
As the government and NGOs work year-round to vaccinate stray, community-owned, and pet dogs, rabies is still prevalent on the island, as one well-meaning foreigner found out all too well last week.
A Canadian-resident in Bali, known by her initials AD, was helping to save a stray puppy in Ubud soon Monday 23rd September when her good deed took a dramatic turn for the worst. During the rescue AD was bitten by the puppy.
Whether playfully or aggressively is unconfirmed, but what matters most significantly is that the bite exposed AD’s skin, and the puppy later tested positive for rabies.
Speaking to reporters, the Head of Health Office, Gianyar Ni Nyoman Ariyuni, confirmed the incident and noted that the puppy had been rescued from Sayan Village, just outside of Ubud. The mixed-breed dog was taken to a local veterinary clinic for treatment, and on the way to the clinic bit AD.
Ariyuni confirmed “After that she immediately get health treatment. The 46-year-old woman got the rabies vaccine (VAR) at the Toya Medika Clinic.”
The three month old puppy was treated at the Saka Vet Clinic in Lodtunduh Village, however, after three days of care the dog passed away.
As a result of the bite and the dog’s passing, the Health Office immediately took a sample of the puppy’s brain, and the test result was positive for rabies. “Foreigners who are bitten are routinely scheduled to be given VAR three times.”
Speaking separately the Head of the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of Animal Health (Keswan) in the Ubud-Payangan region, Wayan Widnyana, said that he was still waiting for the Head of the Village in Banjar Kutuh to carry out the ‘elimination’ of stray dogs.
Widnyana emphasized that, in general, vaccination of pet dogs in Sayan Village has covered more than 80% of the population.
He noted, “Vaccination has been carried out targeting pet dogs. However, there are pet dogs that have not been vaccinated and have been released into the wild.”
As a result of this positive rabies bite case, the area is being monitored, and the stray dogs will be eliminated. “We will eliminate the stray dogs in the area. We selectively eliminate stray dogs.”
Widnyana called on residents not to release stray dogs. “It is better to report to the UPT Keswan; we will take action.”
Tourists who identify a free-roaming dog in need can contact the Animal Health Department or NGOs such as Bawa Bali, Bali Dog Association, Barc Bali, or Lucky Dog Rescue they have team members who are trained and have the correct safety equipment for handling dogs who are at risk of being rabies positive.
The World Health Organisation explains that eliminating or culling a stray or free-roaming dog population does not reduce the risk of rabies and advises mass vaccination as the most impactful and cost-effective method of transmission prevention.
Mass vaccination efforts are conducted across the island every month. Data from Gianyar Regency shows that January to August 2024, there were 5,012 cases of dog bites recorded.
Of these cases, 1,727 people (34.5%) received the Anti-Rabies Vaccine (VAR). As part of data collection, the Animal Health Department took 70 dog samples from across the regency and the results were 28 samples (40%) positive for rabies.
Ariyuni concluded, “Pets should be routinely vaccinated, always [on a lead] or caged and not released. If a dog or cat or monkey bites, even a small wound, come to the nearest health center to get health services.”
Local NGOs such as Bawa Bali routinely conduct mass vaccination and neutering clinics across Bali to help control the population of free-roaming dogs, reduce the risk of rabies transmission within the dog population and reduce the risk to community members too. In the year to date there have been four confirmed human rabies deaths in Bali.
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John Daniel
Wednesday 9th of October 2024
The WHO advises that to eradicate rabies vaccination is not enough, the 'movement of dogs must also be controlled.' This means that like in Australia dogs must be in their homes or on a leash or in designated areas. To enforce this, fines but also probably humanitarian euthanasia of impounded and unclaimed dogs would be necessary. What is worse the horrible death of an innocent child from rabies or the painless euthanasia of uncontrolled dogs? Dog lovers please come to your senses and stop hiding behind an incomplete reading of the WHO guidelines.
M
Tuesday 8th of October 2024
It's the way to keep burglary from your home. People aren't afraid of the watch dog but about the rabies 🤣
Suarjoko
Saturday 5th of October 2024
Pemerintah Bali kurang serius untuk menuntaskan Rabies.
June
Friday 4th of October 2024
I am living in Bali, and I rarely seen local Government or even Big Chain Hotels provide free vaccination for stray dogs around the area. It is also very common for Balinese not sterilize their dogs, which is weird. Often, I see female dogs being chained most of the time, very sad to see. The helps of Bawa and other NGOs are crucial in the survival of these strays. With the income of Balinese Government from tax, they actually can contribute more, yet they don't. And here we go, they blaming the dogs instead of themselves. They only care of their own personal pockets, not the environment or other living creatures. Bali lost its soul, Tri Hita Karana.
Steve b
Saturday 5th of October 2024
@June, kill all dogs without a collar. Shoot on sight
Thommo
Friday 4th of October 2024
Well I wish I could say something positive about care of dogs and cats in Bali but apart from the care for them coming from a few locals but many caring ex pats the situation is diabolical. Before you react. We care for numerous dogs and a dozen + cats. All sterilised. Locals have come up to us and say "oh that's our dog". Really so why don't you feed it and sterilise it instead of letting them roam and scavenge around the neighbourhood in wild packs. There's ex pat sponsored programs happening. Most of the locals don't care and given all our cats "/ dogs are rescues ( some awful stories about them as thrown away pups/ kittens). Governance in Bali / Indo and the local banjars proves its appalling ineptitude once again with its awareness and programs for recognising the problem. We arranged recently for a vet to help a locals dog and it's throat breathing problem and arranged a time with the vet but when he came to treat it the dog and locals were not there. The rabies problem again another issue that's pervaded for decades. If the corrupt wasteful authorities and local governance here ever get their brains into the real world. Indonesia emerging into a developed country? You have to be joking.