Bali News / Bali Travel and Holiday Updates

As soon as rabies infection announced in Bali, the provincial government of Bali along with all regencies and cities started to take necessary action to prevent further spread of the disease. Sanglah as the main hospital in the island has prepared itself accordingly. “Once Sanglah received a patient bitten by dogs we will have to immediately report to Health Offive and Veterinary Office,” said dr. Ken Wirasandi, an official of the hospital after attending coordinative meeting on rabies at the Health Office of Bali.

If the patient then shown rabies symptoms, an isolation ward has been provisioned for special care. Something that people have to keep in mind is that of they got bitten by a dog, the wound has to be washed out with soap for about 10 – 15 minutes. “Then immediately go to the nearest hospital for further care,” said Ken.

People are also advised not to kill the dog at once but to keep it alive for observation. “It is important to help the victim,” said Ken. Observing the biting dog can help in deciding whether the victim gets rabies infection. “If the dog dies within the period of 10 days, rabies infection is can be confirmed, and the victim will immediately get rabies handling including vaccination” said Ken.

Ken further explained that rabies vaccination to be given to human only if they are bitten in endemic area or the dog dies within 10 days after the incident. “Early vaccination is very critical as if vaccination is given after the symptom shows up, the patient has no more chance to survive,” said Ken.

Symptoms

Visibility of preliminary symptoms of rabies depends on the distance between the wound and the head. “The closer to the head the quicker sumptoms showw up,” said Ken. Incubation normally takes sometime between a week to two months, however if the wound is very close to the head, it can take as short as two days. Preliminary symptoms include breath congestion, fever, throat ache, phobia to water and light, as well as loosing sense around the wound.

Meanwhile the Director General of the Ministry of Health Prof. dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama clarified the result of laboratory test on Ketut Wirata which pronounced to be positive of rabies infection. “Laboratory result has not obtained yet, examination is still ongoing. Conclusion on rabies infection can only be obtained from the dog,” said Tjandra in coordinative meeting on the issue in Monday (December 1st).

Head of Bali Veterinary Office Ir. I.B. Alit confirmed the statement. The dog sample which conclude to be infected by rabies virus has been received on Friday (November 28th). The dog was caught on Wednesday (November 26) after biting doors, cans, and even human. The dog died two days later. The victim has got vaccination,” said Alit.

Meanwhile the government of Badung regency issued a standard operating procedure in handling dog-bitten cases especially in Kuta and Southern Kuta in response to Governor’s instruction in handling and anticipating outspreading rabies in Bali. Head of Cattlery, Fishery, and Marine of Badung, I Made Badra said that there are 8 points in the SOP with the most important is that Kuta and Southern Kuta (Tuban and Kedonganan) are prohibited for traffic of rabies-risked animals (dogs, cats, and apes).

Other points include closely monitoring dog-bitten cases, setting up check-points, setting up clear zone through mass vaccinnation, elimination of wild animals, surveillene on human and animal, continuous advisory on public awarness, and regulation on pet ownership.