Australian tourists warned about rabies risk in Bali after recent attacks

Australians travelling to Bali are being warned to check their vaccinations after a series of concerning incidents.

Thousands of tourists heading to Bali over the coming weeks have been warned to check their vaccinations and remain vigilant about the risks of catching rabies after an increase in dog attacks.

The urgent warning from authorities comes after two more residents were bitten by a dog that later tested positive for rabies.

Humans can contract rabies by being bitten by animals that carry the virus, such as dogs and monkeys.

The Bali Animal Welfare group helping with vaccinations. Picture: Instagram

Earlier this month, Aussie mum Amanda Tabone found herself facing a $950 medical bill after her 10-year-old daughter, Eva, was bitten by a monkey.

Bali, which is home to tens of thousands of dogs, offers free mass vaccination clinics for dogs regularly throughout the island, and at the busiest monkey temples, the wild troops of monkeys are also regularly vaccinated against rabies.

However, there has been an increasing number of reports from both residents and tourists getting bitten by dogs and monkeys.

As a result, a Rabies Alert Team will be deployed across the capital to help suppress transmission.

“The Rabies Alert Team will be tasked with providing education and outreach to the community,” The Head of the Denpasar City Agriculture Service AA Bayu Brahmasta told local media.

According to Mr Brahmasta, there are 82,195 known rabies-transmitting animals in Denpasar City alone, with vaccination coverage of over 70 per cent.

Indonesian authorities have vowed to crack down on illegal tour guides who are targeting Bali’s most popular resorts. Picture: AFP

ILLEGAL TOUR GUIDE CRACKDOWN

It comes as Indonesian authorities vowed to crackdown on illegal tour guides who are targeting Bali’s most popular resorts.

Known locally as “gacong”, the illegal guides notoriously target tourists in busy resorts and offer to take them to iconic attractions.

On arrival, they attempt to charge an extra commission for bringing people to local tourist operators and their businesses.

The Badung Civil Service revealed that they are taking firm steps to crack down on gangs of gacong guides operating between Nusa Dua and South Denpasar.

The Head of Badung Civil Service I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara told local media more needs to be done to keep tourists safe from these “corrupt guides”.

“We cannot accept this gacong behaviour because it is worrying,” Mr Suryanegara said.

“Every time there is action, we don’t get an appointment at the Denpasar District Court. We detained their ID cards, but they still didn’t show up to court.”

The guides are known to pressure both tourists and businesses. Picture: Getty Images

The Head of South Kuta Subdistrict I Ketut Gede Arta said guides are known to pressure tourists into signing up for water sports activities in Tanjung Benoa beach.

He said these guides then put pressure on the service providers to pay them a commission despite not having a contract or even a relationship with them.

“We have taken several steps. We have invited all water tourism owners to work together to overcome this problem,” Mr Arta told local media.

“Anyone who disturbs the comfort of tourists, we will monitor them and impose sanctions according to applicable regulations.

“This awareness must grow together, and the preventive steps we take are a form of our commitment to maintaining the safety and comfort of tourists in Bali.”

To ensure tourists aren’t getting caught up in the illegal guides, the government encourages people to pre-book their tour guide based on recommendations or booking experiences directly with attractions.

Originally published as Australian tourists warned about rabies risk in Bali after recent attacks