Efforts are being taken by key officials in Bali to protect tourists from the rabies outbreak. Vaccinations have been made available to try and deal with the current surge in rabies cases.
According to Governor Wayan Koster, efforts have been taken to vaccinate dogs in Bali to prevent the virus from spreading. Despite the current rabies outbreak, tourist numbers remain unaffected.
Efforts have been made to accelerate the process of vaccinating dogs with Governor Koster stating that there are still plenty of vaccines available. The vaccination process is 51% completed and the vaccination campaigns have been successful so far.
In Denpasar, the nation’s capital city, four vaccination centers were established. According to Governor Koster approximately two hundred thousand rabies vaccinations are expected to come from Australia to further help deal with the outbreak.
Recent data indicates that there have been approximately two thousand eight hundred dog bites reported in Bali between January 2023 and May 2023. The data indicates that the number of dog bites have doubled compared to those reported in 2022 within the same period.
According to Governor Koster, the aim is to have zero reported deaths in Bali due to rabies by the beginning of next year. The vaccination programs will also aim to have zero rabies cases reported in animals and humans by 2028.
Badung Regency is a popular destination for many tourists and is home to multiple resorts; 70,102 dogs from a total of 90,000 have been vaccinated in the region which is a good sign. The vaccination program has been integral in Badung Regency where dog bites have been reported in 2023.
The Head of Disease Prevention and Control in Badung has stressed the importance of vigilance by tourists and locals in combating the spread of rabies. Community leaders and dog owners are being urged to take their dogs and strays dogs for vaccination.
The World Health Organization stresses that rabies prevention can only be successful through efforts to educate communities on the virus. Vaccinations are also essential In the management and treatment of wounds.