There have been 4,177 reported cases and five deaths related to dengue fever on Bali Island since January 2024.
In a statement provided to the press by I Gusti Ayu Raka Susanti, the interim head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Control at the Bali Health Department, on Saturday, the 20th of April, the provincial government encouraged tourists visiting Bali to receive a dengue vaccination upon arrival on the island. This plea was directed particularly at tourists from overseas after it was reported that a foreigner from Queensland, Australia, had recently contracted dengue fever while vacationing in Bali.
“We hope all tourists remain vigilant during their holiday to safeguard their health. Dengue fever is common in endemic regions [such as Bali]. Vaccination is one of the preventive measures,” explained Susanti.
Susanti also noted that although there is no official policy yet mandating all visiting tourists in Bali to receive a dengue vaccination upon arrival, she pointed out that the vaccination could be seen as an effort to “strengthen oneself” against the potential spread of the disease. Furthermore, the same recommendation applies to the local Balinese population as well.
“The dengue vaccination is not yet a mandatory programme, which means it is still subject to payment,” continued Susanti. “If I’m not mistaken, the fee is Rp400,000 per injection. Anyone interested in receiving the vaccination should visit their nearest healthcare facility in Bali. The vaccination is available to anyone from toddlers to senior citizens.”
The Bali Health Department reported that since the 1st of January 2024, there have been 4,177 cases and five deaths related to dengue fever. On Saturday alone (20th of April), there were 899 new cases of dengue fever, with most cases found in Denpasar, Gianyar, and Badung. The Bali Health Department attributed the recent surge in dengue fever on the island to the monsoon rainy season.