Rabies outbreak death toll reaches 100 in Indonesia's Bali

Rabies outbreak death toll reaches 100 in Indonesia's Bali

2010-10-15 18:48:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

BALI, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll as a result of a rabies outbreak on the Indonesian resort island of Bali reached 100 on Friday, local media reported.

Ken Wirasandhi, a doctor monitoring the epidemic, on Friday told Indonesian media that a 40-year-old villager had died overnight as a result of rabies, raising the death toll on Bali to 100.

Even though the island of Bali has been facing the outbreak for almost two years, Dewa Ngurah, Animal Husbandry Department Chief of Fisheries and Marine in Denpasar, the island's capital, explained that most of the deaths caused by rabies occur due to medical negligence.

"The loss of life in cases involving dog bites usually occurs because family or victims often dismiss and do not treat the illness," Ngurah said, adding that without any serious treatment, the cases can turn fatal at any moment.

Ngurah stressed that people should not underestimate symptoms, although in many cases, residents simply have a lack of understanding of the disease and its symptoms. But, Ngurah said, people should not hesitate to ask for immediate medical attention if bitten by a dog and receive an anti-rabies vaccine at a local clinic or hospital.

Bali is an island of 3 million people and is located next to Java's east end. As a popular international beach resort, several countries have issued health advisories, recommending travelers to get anti-rabies vaccines and avoid stray dogs.

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