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The island of Bali has escalated its public health response following a recent outbreak of rabies, which has prompted a state of heightened vigilance and a mass dog vaccination program in the Tabanan region.
The Tabanan Agriculture Agency confirmed it has vaccinated nearly 500 dogs, encompassing both stray and domestic animals, as part of an emergency drive focused squarely on high-risk 'red zone' areas for rabies transmission.
This proactive measure aims to swiftly cut off the potential spread of the virus within the community.
In addition to vaccinations, a local non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the agency, has rescued at least nine stray dogs and relocated them to an animal shelter.
This removal of strays is deemed essential to prevent the virus from spreading further into the local wildlife, particularly the monkeys found around Mt Batukaru, which could create a difficult-to-contain reservoir for the disease.
The head of the agency’s livestock and animal health division urged tourists and climbers to refrain from feeding stray dogs along hiking trails, warning that this habit has likely contributed to the rise in the stray dog population in the area.
Health officials confirmed that most of the recent victims were bitten on the feet and have all received the necessary post-exposure vaccinations, with the full three-dose regimen expected to be completed within a month.
The coordinated effort underscores the serious threat rabies poses to the island’s residents and tourism sector.