A 23-year-old man died Thursday night of rabies, Tabanan General Hospital has confirmed, bringing the death toll from the disease in the island to 24.
Gde Sudiarta, secretary of the hospital's rabies center, said that during his treatment at the hospital, Nova Apandi had exhibited rabies-like symptoms.
Two days before he died, Nova had suffered from a suspected prodormal syndrome, the first sign of rabies in humans, Sudiarta said.
"Less than 48 hours later, the patient experienced a period of agitation in which he became aggressive and was afraid of water, air, sunlight and electric lamps," he added.
Nova died just hours later, becoming the 24th victim of the rabies outbreak that has hit all of Bali - with the exception of Jembrana and Klungkung regencies.
He was the third victim in a week. Two others had died from rabies a few days earlier in Karangasem regency.
Rabies is ranked the 10th most deadly disease worldwide, claiming approximately 55,000 lives annually. The vast majority of rabies deaths occur in developing countries.
Bali is among the most affected areas in Indonesia, with the latest outbreak beginning in November 2008 and blamed largely on the island's dog population of 500,000.
Most Balinese hold dogs in high regard, and the animals are often allowed to freely roam village and city streets.
"In Nova's case, the victim didn't seek proper medical treatment in time," Sudiarta said.
"I fear many people out there are still not accessing healthcare facilities after being bitten by a dog."
Nova had reportedly been bitten by a stray dog in August, but did not get an inoculation.
He reportedly only began feeling sick within the past week, or about two months after being bitten.
The Bali administration has launched a number of anti-rabies campaigns, including mass vaccinations, culling of stray dogs, and public advocacy campaigns to prevent the rabies outbreak spreading across the island of the gods.
In its vaccination drive, the administration has been using the short-injection scheme given to dogs in three phases.
Putri Jayaningsih, head of the provincial animal health and control agency, said the administration was currently trying out a new type of longer-lasting anti-rabies vaccine.
"This means that a dog or any other animal will only need to be vaccinated once a year," she said. "The animal will then remain immune to the rabies virus for up to three years."
Jayaningsih added around 60,000 doses of the new anti-rabies vaccines were now available for free.
The Bali administration is targeting to vaccinate 300,000 dogs, or about two-thirds of resort island's total dog population.
The administration is also currently working on a bylaw on rabies to provide local authority with stronger legal backing to implement various rabies prevention schemes.
