Local Authorities Urge Tourists to Exercise Caution
Large-Scale Vaccination Campaigns Underway as Dog Bite Incidents Increase
As dog bite incidents increase in Bali, Indonesia?a popular tourist destination among Koreans?authorities have designated major tourist areas as red zones due to growing concerns over rabies.
According to the Indonesian media outlet The Bali Sun, the Badung Regency Agricultural and Food Agency has warned tourists and local communities that dog bite incidents involving rabid dogs are on the rise in the South Kuta area of Badung Regency. An official from the agency stated that, in addition to South Kuta, some villages in the Mengwi area have also been designated as red zones, adding, "Although there are only one or two cases in each location, the situation is serious."
The South Kuta area includes major tourist destinations such as Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, and Jimbaran. The Mengwi area features tourist spots like Pererenan Beach and Seseh in Canggu. The Agricultural and Food Agency official explained, "One of the main reasons for the red zone designation is the abundance of vegetation in these areas," adding, "This makes them habitats for stray dogs."
According to data from the authorities, as of July, there have been one or two confirmed cases of rabies per village. However, there are concerns that the high number of stray dogs could facilitate the spread of rabies. Across Bali Island, there were 8,801 reported bite incidents by March of this year, resulting in at least six deaths.
When a rabies case is reported, authorities immediately conduct large-scale vaccination campaigns targeting dogs in the affected area. Dog bite incidents were recorded at the Bali State Polytechnic campus in Jimbaran and on nearby Pratama Street, and mass vaccinations of stray dogs in these areas were completed on the 10th. Residents who were bitten were taken to health centers and received rabies prevention vaccines.
The Agricultural and Food Agency stated, "There is a local animal health center in the South Kuta area, enabling immediate intervention," and added, "We are conducting regular large-scale vaccinations, and if the vaccination rate falls below 70 percent, we carry out additional and emergency vaccinations."
Rabies is a viral disease that is mainly transmitted through dog bites. Once symptoms appear, the fatality rate reaches 100 percent.
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