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young housewife passed away on Sunday afternoon in Sanglah Central Hospital after being treated for rabies symptoms from last Thursday.

She was identified as Ni Made Dwi Kartika Sari, 21, a resident of Buahan village, Tabanan regency, Bali. Ironically, Dwi was the daughter-in-law of the late I Nyoman Diadnya, who died in late August after displaying similar symptoms.

Diadnya was the first rabies victim from Tabanan, a regency that hasn't been declared as a rabies epidemic area. So far, only Badung and Denpasar have been officially named as epidemic areas, thus, receiving all the necessary medical support related to anti-rabies measures.

Dwi's grieving husband, Agus Eka. 22, said his wife was bitten by a stray dog in early August.

Unfortunately, not until 15 days after the incident took place did Dwi receive an anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) injection.

"After she was bitten by the dog, we rushed her to Tabanan Regional Hospital. Yet, the medical personnel there only stitched her wound and didn't give her the VAR," he said.

During her treatment at the hospital, Dwi was inoculated with VAR twice, but the inoculations failed to save her.

"Her condition was already severe when she was admitted to the hospital," said Raka Sudewi, the attending physician.

"She couldn't move both her legs, she was restless and displayed a phobia of water, all are classic symptoms of rabies," he added.

He said that a sample from the woman would be sent to the laboratory to confirm or deny the presence of the rabies virus. At least nine people have died in the resort island of Bali due to suspected rabies infections since late last year.