Rabies Prevention

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
Rabies virus  is growing very rapidly and causes death. Almost all cases have been transmitted through animal bites, although the virus can also be transmitted if the saliva of infected animals directly into the eyes, nose, mouth or open/wounded skin. Dogs are the main source of transmission to humans in addition to cats, monkeys and some other wild animals such as foxes, raccoons, mongoose, and bats.
The rabies situation has improved in Bali but travelers should be aware of the ongoing risk and avoid animal contact and report any bites.
The first thing to consider is the rabies vaccination. It is very important not only for tourists but also locals whose activities involve contact with animals such as dogs, cats, bats and other carnivores. Rabies vaccination before exposure (pre-exposure), given 3 times (days 0, 7 and 21 or 28) before traveling.
It must be remembered that, despite vaccination, medical treatment is still needed if you are bitten or scratched by an animal.
Another important thing to do is to avoid animal bites. Avoid contact or touching animals, including wild animals and pets. Moreover, pets like dogs and cats in Bali do not all get rabies vaccinations. If traveling with children, supervise them, especially if they are close to dogs, cats or wild animals such as monkeys.
Children are more likely to be bitten by an animal, sometimes not tell if bitten and if bitten can cause more severe injuries. If you are traveling and bring pets with you, keep an eye on your pet and should not be allowed to play with the local animals.
Act immediately if you are bitten or scratched by an animal. The things you can do are:

• washing the wound with soap and running water 
• seek medical help (hospitals, health centers, clinics, local doctors), although you do not feel pain or injury is not serious. 
• to prevent rabies, post-exposure vaccination is required. 

You can go to one of the Rabies centers currently provided by the Govenrment of Bali, including:

• Puskesmas Kuta Selatan, 
• Puskesmas Desa Ungasan and Jimbaran, 
• Puskesmas Denpasar Selatan, 
• Wangaya Hospital, 
• Sanglah Hospital, and 
• all district hospitals in Bali. 

Or you can go to the nearest health/medical centers, they will give you further information and where should go.

Post-exposure prophylaxis should be initiated immediately. The incubation period averages 2–3 months and death occurs within 2 weeks after the appearance of clinical symptoms if intensive care is not sought. Since prolonged incubation periods have been noted, people who present for evaluation and treatment even months after having been bitten should be dealt with in the same manner as if the contact occurred recently. Factors that should be considered in deciding whether or not to initiate post-exposure treatment are:

• the nature of the contact, 
• the presence of rabies in the area where the contact occurred or from which the animal involved came, 
• the species of the animal involved, 
• the vaccination and clinical status of the animal involved, 
• the type of vaccine used and the availability of the animal for observation, 
• the results of laboratory testing of the animal for rabies, if available.