Bali is Free of Rabies

(9/20/2008)

Jakarta Post quotes a representative of the Island's livestock office as declaring Bali free of rabies, despite the prevalence of feral dogs in many areas.

Dewa Ngurah of the Denpasar Livestock Office said visitors to Bali need to have no fear of rabies from the ubiquitous stray dogs encountered on roads, beaches and residential areas.

There are currently some 5,000 registered dogs in the city of Denpasar. And, while dog bites and canine attacks are not uncommon, there have been no confirmed cases of rabies found anywhere on Bali.

Officials, however, remain vigilant in monitoring animal-borne diseases in Bali with epidemics of rabies common in isolated area of Flores, just 250 miles to the east of Bali.