Letter: Rabies in Bali

Regarding the article “More than 4,000 stray dogs culled on Nusa Penida” (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 31), the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) would like to comment.

The tragic rabies death of I Wayan Citra demonstrates Bali’s need to resolutely focus on the mass dog vaccination program. To date, Klungkung (the regency to which Nusa Penida belongs) remains the only region in Bali that has not signed the mass inoculation agreement.

In the particular case of I Wayan Citra, the rabid dog that bit him was transported from the mainland of Bali out to the island of Nusa Penida.

If the dogs on the island had already been vaccinated, the one dog that was brought from the mainland would have still gotten rabies (since it was already infected) — but the other dogs on the island would have been immune to the disease.

Simply put — the healthy heard would be able to ward off the disease. One rabid dog would not be enough to cause a potential outbreak — thus there would be no need to kill all the dogs in a laborious and inhumane campaign, which will eventually prove ineffective in controlling rabies.

Most people who rely on their animals as guards or farm dogs will simply buy another puppy.

As it is still possible to freely transport animals between different areas, many of these puppies come from infected bird and pet markets or from breeders who have not vaccinated the animals before selling them.

We must use the holistic and sustainable approach, instead of an approach that is inhumane and does not work.

We urge Klungkung to join the island-wide vaccination program. We are grateful to the Bali provincial government for running this program so robustly, and also wish to thank the central government for providing funds and essential support.

A robust and well-coordinated vaccination program is the only way Bali can eradicate rabies. This, coupled with rabies awareness education and ready access to post-exposure treatment, will deliver Bali back to its rabies free status.

Rebecca Gill
Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA)
External Relations Manager (Volunteer)
Ubud, Bali