Twenty dogs have tested positive for rabies in Badung Regency since January 2026. And one area has emerged as the most dangerous: South Kuta.
The Badung Agriculture and Food Agency (Disperpa) has identified Kuta Selatan as the district with the highest number of cases. Dense settlements and the large number of free-roaming dogs have made the virus difficult to contain.
“South Kuta is the largest contributor to cases, which is why we are focusing our attention there,” said I Gusti Ngurah Narendra Putra, head of the animal health division at Disperpa Badung, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
For expats living in popular southern Bali neighborhoods — including Jimbaran, Ungasan, Tanjung Benoa, and Nusa Dua — the warning is personal. These areas fall within South Kuta district. Stray dogs are common. Pet dogs are often walked without leashes. And the virus does not distinguish between a local family’s pet and a foreigner’s rescue dog.
Why South Kuta Is the Hotspot
Narendra explained that the geography of South Kuta makes rabies control difficult. The area is densely populated. Many dogs are allowed to roam freely. And a significant number of pets are not registered with local authorities, making it impossible for vaccination teams to track them.
“The location is complex,” he said. “Many residents and many dogs are left to roam. That is our problem in handling the outbreak.”
The agency has already conducted vaccination drives at dozens of locations across South Kuta. But with so many dogs and so much movement, the virus continues to spread.
The Vaccination Campaign
The Badung government launched a mass vaccination campaign in April 2026, targeting all 62 villages and subdistricts across the regency. The goal is to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the estimated 95,000 rabies-carrying animals in the area — roughly 75,000 dogs.
So far, the campaign has reached 51.77 percent of its target. The agency expects to complete the program by June or early July 2026.
Vaccine supplies are adequate. Badung currently has approximately 75,000 doses on hand, supplemented by an additional 40,000 doses from the Bali provincial government.
“We have enough,” Narendra said.
What This Means for Expats and Travelers
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. There is no cure. Only prevention.
For expats and tourists in Bali, the risk is real. Infected dogs can be found anywhere — on beaches, in rice fields, outside restaurants, and along quiet residential streets. A seemingly friendly stray that approaches for food could be carrying the virus.
Simple precautions save lives:
- Do not approach or feed stray dogs. Even if they look healthy, they may be in the early stages of infection.
- Ensure your own dogs are vaccinated. If you own a pet in Bali, check its rabies vaccination status immediately. Unvaccinated pets are a danger to your household and to the community.
- Seek immediate medical attention if bitten or scratched. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 15 minutes. Go to a clinic or hospital for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Do not wait.
- Report stray dogs behaving strangely. Aggression, excessive drooling, disorientation, or unusual tameness can be signs of rabies. Contact local authorities or your community banjar.
A Preventable Tragedy
Bali has been battling rabies since 2008, when the virus first appeared on the island after decades of being rabies-free. The outbreak that year killed more than 100 people before mass vaccination campaigns brought the situation under control.
But the virus never disappeared. It lingers in unvaccinated dog populations, waiting for an opportunity to resurface.
Twenty positive cases in Badung since January is not a crisis — yet. But it is a warning.
South Kuta is the hotspot today. Without vigilance, the virus could spread to neighboring districts. And another tourist or expat could become a statistic.
The dogs cannot protect themselves. Their owners must. And if you encounter a stray, the safest choice is to walk away.
