KOMPAS/LUCKY PRANSISKAThe Bali health agency has lowered the rabies alert level. Although it did not specify the current level of vigilance, the agency officials claim to have successfully brought the spread of the disease on the island under control.

According to the agency, 26 people died of rabies last year, a significant decline from 83 in the previous year. The drop in rabies cases followed a mass vaccination and selected culling, it said.

A round of applause should go to all Balinese, who, I know for sure, since the first rabies outbreak in 2008, have rolled up their sleeves to work day and night to curb the spread of the deadly disease. To date, they are doing their best to prevent more human fatalities from rabies.

They have done all they can to make sure the province remains a haven for tourists from across the world, rather than for mad dogs.

But the...