The presence of rabid dogs in Gianyar has once again alarmed the people of Bali. Two residents from Banjar Maspait, Blahbatuh, were bitten by a dog. The victims are identified as Ni Kadek Vidya (10 years old) and Ni Wayan Metri (56 years old).
Available information indicates that both victims were bitten by the same dog, although at different times. The initial victim, Kadek Vidya, encountered the rabid dog on Friday, 17 November 2023, at 6 PM local time. Two hours later, at 8 PM, Wayan Metri was also bitten by the same animal.
The two victims were successfully taken to the clinic for anti-rabies vaccine injections. In total, both victims needed three injections of the vaccine. Their second dose is set for 25 November 2023.
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Upon the recommendation of the medical team and the village government, inspections were immediately conducted at the residences of the victims. I Wayan Juliawan stated his intention to remove the dog responsible for the attacks within the current week.
As per the Indonesian Ministry of Health report, Bali witnessed over 14,000 rabies cases between January and April 2023. This number is projected to rise to over 19 thousand cases by the final quarter of the same year. Most victims contracted rabies from dogs and wild animals living in their area.
In efforts to curb rabies cases in Bali, the government is striving to increase the stock of rabies vaccines and administer vaccinations across the broader community. Instances of being bitten by rabid dogs aren’t limited to local residents; Numerous foreign tourists also encounter such incidents.
In January 2023, two tourists encountered rabid dog bites within the Kuta area. As a result, this area was designated as a rabies red zone temporarily. The high population of stray dogs in Bali poses a challenge for the local government in its efforts to reduce the incidence of rabies cases in the region.
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