Bali Tourists Issued Safety Advice About Interacting With Island’s Dogs 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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.