Rabies (Human) in Indonesia (Bali)

09 Jun 2015

Rabies virus infection is an ongoing problem in Bali, Indonesia. The media has reported that the Provincial Health Service in Bali has confirmed one further human death from rabies. This bring the total number of human rabies deaths thus far in 2015, to 9.

The latest case was a 15-year-old high school student who was bitten by a dog (no further information); the young person died in Sanglah hospital in Denpasar on 4 June 2015. This media report makes no mention of any rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administered to the patient; previous media reports have highlighted a shortage of rabies PEP in Bali.

Advice for Travellers

The rabies situation has improved in Bali but remains an ongoing problem. The Badung regency includes the main tourist destinations of the island. Travellers should be aware of the risk in Bali and avoid animal contact and report any bites promptly. Pre-exposure vaccination should be considered for those at risk.