Rabid dog attack renews focus on Bali's rabies crisis after children bitten

A rabid dog attack on three residents, including two children, in Indonesia's Jembrana regency has brought Bali's persistent rabies crisis into sharp focus. The incident occurred on June 15 in East Tegal Badeng village when a pet dog, allowed to roam freely, attacked a group of people at a community event.

The three victims, aged 47, five, and four, sustained bite wounds. Although the dog was driven away, it later exhibited rabies symptoms and was found dead the next day. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the rabies virus.

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Mass vaccination is urgently needed given the relatively high number of rabies cases recorded in Jembrana during the first half of 2026. As of early June, the regency had reported 33 confirmed rabies cases in animals.

Health authorities administered post-exposure vaccinations to the victims. I Gusti Ngurah Putu Sugiarta, head of the Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Division at Jembrana’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Agency, stated that a mass vaccination campaign for dogs and other rabies-transmitting animals is planned for areas surrounding the attack site. He noted that Jembrana had already reported 33 confirmed animal rabies cases by early June.

Sugiarta urged residents to be vigilant and responsible for their pets, advising against letting them roam freely and encouraging prompt medical attention for bites and reporting of unusual animal behavior. This incident occurred shortly after a 38-year-old woman in Jembrana died from rabies on May 24. She had been bitten by a stray cat about a month prior but did not seek medical treatment, opting for self-care. She later developed severe symptoms, including hydrophobia and restlessness, and died from encephalitis.

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People should not allow their pets to roam freely and should immediately seek medical attention if they are bitten by a dog. They should also report any animals displaying unusual behaviour to the nearest health authorities.