Rabies in Bali: The Real Risk and What to Do After a Bite

Is there rabies in Bali?

Yes. Rabies has been present in Bali since 2008, and it has not been eliminated. The Bali Provincial Health Office recorded 45,365 bites from rabies-carrying animals and seven rabies deaths between January and August 2026, after 16 deaths across 2025. Those numbers are mostly among local residents, and the risk to a careful visitor is low. But rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, so the rule is simple and worth repeating: avoid contact with animals, and treat any bite or scratch as urgent.

The reassuring part is that rabies is completely preventable after an exposure if you act quickly. Knowing exactly what to do turns a frightening situation into a manageable one.

Dogs, cats and monkeys

Bali has one of the largest dog populations in Indonesia, more than half a million animals in 2025, many of them free-roaming village and beach dogs. Most are calm and ignore tourists, but dogs are the main source of rabies here. Cats and monkeys can also carry the virus; in principle any mammal can.

• Dogs: Do not pet, feed or approach dogs, including friendly-looking beach and temple dogs and puppies. If dogs bark or follow you, stay calm, do not run, and walk away slowly. Be extra careful on scooters and early-morning walks, when packs are territorial.
• Monkeys: The long-tailed macaques at Uluwatu Temple, the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest, Sangeh and Alas Kedaton are wild animals. Do not feed them, carry food or plastic bags, or let them climb on you for a photo. Secure sunglasses and phones and avoid eye contact with large males.
• Cats and bats: Do not handle strays, and never touch a bat.
• Children: They are most at risk because they love animals and may not report a scratch. Keep an eye on them around dogs and monkeys, and ask them to tell you about any contact at all.

What to do after a bite or scratch

This applies to any bite, scratch or lick on broken skin from a dog, cat, monkey or other mammal, even if the animal looked healthy and even if the wound is tiny.

1. Wash the wound immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. This is World Health Organization guidance and it genuinely reduces risk. Keep a timer running; it feels longer than you think.
2. Apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine (Betadine, sold in every pharmacy and minimart) if you have it.
3. Do not close the wound with stitches or tight dressings; cover it loosely.
4. Get to a hospital or clinic the same day for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Do not wait to see whether the animal gets sick, and do not wait until you are home.
5. Contact your travel insurer, who can direct you to a suitable facility and handle costs.

PEP means a course of rabies vaccine injections spread over a few weeks, and, for more serious exposures in people who have not been vaccinated before, rabies immune globulin (RIG) injected into and around the wound. You will need to complete the vaccine course after you leave Bali, so keep your vaccination record.

Where to get treatment and RIG

Rabies vaccine is widely used across Bali, given the tens of thousands of bites treated each year. Rabies immune globulin is more limited: it is expensive, smaller clinics often do not carry it, and availability can vary. Go to a major hospital rather than a small clinic, and call ahead or let your insurer check stock. If RIG is not available, health authorities including Australia's Smartraveller note that travelers may need to travel to another country, or home, for immediate treatment. Our emergency information page lists Bali's emergency numbers and major hospitals.

Should you get the pre-exposure vaccine?

Many travel doctors recommend rabies pre-exposure vaccination (PrEP) for Bali, and the UK's Fit for Travel lists it as a vaccine to consider, especially for long stays, children, travel to rural areas and anyone who will be around animals.

It is usually a short course of two or three injections over one to four weeks, depending on your country's schedule, so start planning with a travel clinic at least a month before you fly. PrEP does not mean you can ignore a bite: you still need to wash the wound and get booster doses quickly. But it has two big advantages:

• You no longer need rabies immune globulin, the scarcer part of treatment.
• You need fewer vaccine doses after a bite, typically two boosters a few days apart, which takes the pressure off if you are traveling.

For expats and long-stay visitors, it is one of the most useful vaccines you can get.

Calm, not fearful

Rabies is the reason Bali runs regular mass dog vaccination campaigns. You do not need to be afraid of every dog on the beach; you just need a clear plan. Keep your distance from animals, carry a small bottle of antiseptic, know which hospital you would go to, and treat any bite as an emergency for the rest of the day.

For more on the island's real risks, from scooters to surf, see is Bali safe, and if you are traveling with little ones, our guide to Bali with kids.