Bali closes doors to dogs

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has called a halt to all canine import and export on the island, as provincial authorities try to control a rabies outbreak.

"We are closing the seaports and airport to any dog trade. This is to prevent rabies transmission off the island," he said while attending a rabies vaccination event in Denpasar.

The outbreak became official when a resident in Jimbaran, Badung Regency was confirmed to have died from rabies after he was bitten by a dog. Several people on the island had been confirmed dead from rabies since December.

Hundreds of people had been inoculated with the vaccine for humans while hundreds of dogs had been put down or vaccinated since the campaign began in December. The Bali administration estimates the island is hot to around 20,000 dogs. (dre)