In short. Rabies has not disappeared from Bali: according to the provincial health office, 52,645 bites by animals that carry rabies had been registered by 11 September 2026. The carriers are dogs, including the neighbours' dogs, cats, monkeys in Uluwatu, Ubud and Sangeh, and bats. Not only a bite is dangerous but also a scratch and a lick on a wound. First 15 minutes: wash the wound with soap under running water for 15 minutes, then apply an antiseptic, and do not stitch the wound. The same day, go to the nearest rabies centre, puskesmas or hospital for a course of VAR vaccine, and for deep bites serum as well. The course is finished even if the dog has an owner and vaccinations. Doctors advise people who live in Bali, especially with children, to have a preventive course of three shots in advance.
Why this is serious. Rabies has not disappeared from Bali: according to the provincial health office, 52,645 bites by animals that carry rabies had been registered by 11 September 2026, of which 39,193 were from animals with signs of rabies. Seven people died, and in 2025 sixteen died, Bali Post wrote. Most bites were in Badung regency, that is Kuta, Canggu and Jimbaran: almost ten thousand in less than a year. The disease is fatal once symptoms appear, so everything is decided in the first hours after the bite, while there are none.
Who carries it. Dogs, including street dogs and the neighbours' "pet" dogs; cats; monkeys in Uluwatu, Ubud and Sangeh; bats. According to the Ministry of Health rules, not only a bite is dangerous but also a scratch and a lick on a wound or mucous membrane. A monkey that snatched your glasses and scratched your hand counts as a contact.
First 15 minutes. The Ministry of Health procedure: wash the wound at once with soap or detergent under running water for 15 minutes, which kills the virus on the surface of the wound. Then an antiseptic, iodine or alcohol. Do not stitch the wound or seal it tight until you see a doctor. If you can, photograph the animal and ask the owner for the vaccination booklet.
The same day: the vaccine. Next, go to the nearest "rabies centre", in Indonesian rabies center: this is a state health post, a puskesmas, or a hospital. There they wash the wound again and prescribe a course of VAR vaccine, and for deep bites, bites to the face, neck and hands, SAR serum as well. The course runs on a schedule of several shots and must not be abandoned, even if the wound has healed and the animal looks healthy. In state puskesmas the vaccine after a bite is free. Private clinics charge: Tribun Bali wrote about Rp 900,000 for a course at a private clinic, and the health office did not dispute it. A large state hospital in Denpasar is RSUP Prof. Ngoerah, formerly Sanglah. The Bali health office separately asks victims not to wait for symptoms.
What about the animal. If the dog has an owner, ask for the vaccination booklet and agree to observe the animal: the doctor will take its condition into account, but the course is still started on the first day. For a street dog, report it to the village administration banjar or through the owners of your villa: veterinary teams respond to bites. In September 2026, after a puppy bite in Jembrana, the whole village was vaccinated urgently.
Vaccination in advance. Doctors advise people who live in Bali, especially with children, or who run and ride scooters through villages, to have a preventive course of three shots before any bite. After it, a contact needs two shots instead of the full course and no serum. It is done at private clinics, so ask the price on the spot. Not all dogs on the island are vaccinated: as of September 2026 coverage was about 60 percent of the population, Bali Post reported.
What this means for you. If you are bitten or scratched: 15 minutes under the tap with soap, then a puskesmas or hospital the same day, and finish the course. Monkeys at temples and on the beaches of Bukit are carriers too, so keep glasses and food in your bag. If you live here, have the preventive vaccination: it is cheaper than one night trip to the hospital. The ambulance and other service numbers are in our guide to emergency numbers.