Four People Die from Rabies in Bali

In terms of quantity, there were fewer fatal cases of rabies infection in humans in Bali during January to early July 2023 compared to the same period last year.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Bali has not yet been free from rabies cases. As of July 2023, rabies infections have resulted in four deaths in Bali. Maintaining pet animals, including providing rabies vaccines to dogs, is an effort to prevent the spread of rabies.

DENPASAR, KOMPAS - The Bali Provincial Health Office has confirmed that four people have died due to rabies infection in Bali since the beginning of 2023. The Bali Provincial Health Office also stated that rabies vaccines are available at health facilities and regional health offices in Bali.

Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, I Nyoman Gede Anom, stated that in terms of quantity, the number of fatal cases due to rabies infection in humans in Bali from January to early July 2023 is less compared to the same period last year.

From January to early July 2023, there were four recorded cases of fatalities. Meanwhile, during the same period last year, there were 11 cases of death caused by rabies infection in Bali. "It has decreased by almost 64 percent," said Anom, who was contacted on Saturday (1/7/2023).

Four cases of deaths due to rabies infection occurred this year in Jembrana Regency, with two cases, one case in Buleleng Regency, and one case in Badung Regency.

Also read: Rabies and Dengue Fever are Still Rising in Bali

COKORDA YUDISTIRA M PUTRA

A dog was seen lying down in an empty field in the Kerobokan area of North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali on Tuesday (6/4/2021). The dog, which was released by its owner, is at risk of transmitting rabies. The release of dogs is also a challenge in the eradication and control of rabies transmission in Bali.

The agency also noted that there were 19,095 cases of rabies-transmitting animal bites (HPR), especially from dogs, with 300 positive rabies cases. However, not all bite cases resulted in fatalities as victims received immediate treatment, including rabies vaccination.

Anom stated that cases of rabies-infected animal bites result in fatalities because the victims were not immediately treated. "The deaths occurred because they were not given the rabies vaccine within one to three months of infection," said Anom.

The data from the Bali Provincial Agriculture and Food Security Office shows that the population of dogs in Bali is estimated to reach 599,719 by 2023. The availability of rabies vaccines in Bali until June 2023 is 510,000 doses. As of early June 2023, the rabies vaccination program in Bali has reportedly reached about 43.2 percent of the animal population, especially dogs.

However, transmission of rabies from dogs to other animals has been found in one of the neighborhoods in Pujungan Village, Pupuan District, Tabanan Regency. Recently, a pet monkey owned by a resident was declared positive for rabies infection after fighting with a wild dog. The monkey then bit local residents and caused two people to be infected with rabies. The victims of the monkey bites have reportedly received treatment and obtained rabies vaccines.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Bali Animal Welfare Association volunteers tied a dog with a special leash after it received rabies vaccination in Penebel, Tabanan, Bali, some time ago. Rabies has attacked a total of 223 out of 635 villages in nine cities/districts in Bali. Cases of rabies transmission through animal bites from 2010 to October 7, 2011, have risen sharply to 43,174 cases.

Head of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Division in the Agriculture Office of Tabanan Regency, Gede Eka Parta Ariana stated that rabies vaccination for animals is still ongoing in Tabanan.

The rabies vaccination coverage in Tabanan has been reported to have reached 54.88 percent of the estimated animal population, especially dogs, which amounted to 62,104. The community is expected to actively and consciously care for their pets, including providing rabies vaccination for dogs or cats.

The Health Department, according to Anom, is also continuing to socialize early treatment for animal bites, especially from dogs, which includes immediately washing the wound with soap and running water, then immediately taking the victim to the nearest community health center (puskesmas) to get the rabies vaccine. The availability of rabies vaccine and antirabies serum is still sufficient, with a total stock of 63,284 doses of rabies vaccine.