DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali’s Agriculture and Food Security Agency reported that rabies vaccination coverage for animals at risk of transmitting the disease, primarily dogs, reached 85.35 percent throughout 2025.
Head of the Bali Agriculture and Food Security Agency, Wayan Sunada, said the province’s dog population is estimated at nearly 600,000. Of that number, 482,868 dogs out of a total population of 565,737 have received rabies vaccinations.
“With vaccination coverage at 85.35 percent, this is a fairly strong achievement considering the dog population is close to 600,000,” Sunada said on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).
The vaccination rate showed an improvement compared to 2024, when coverage stood at 79.43 percent. According to the agency, the highest vaccination coverage in 2025 was recorded in Karangasem Regency, where 96.25 percent of dogs have been vaccinated. In contrast, Jembrana Regency reported the lowest coverage at 64.92 percent.
Sunada noted that one of the main challenges faced by vaccination teams is the large number of free-roaming and stray dogs, as well as dogs that are allowed to roam freely by their owners, making them difficult to vaccinate.
Field teams often conduct active searches to locate unvaccinated dogs and administer vaccines directly, as unvaccinated animals pose a higher risk of rabies transmission and potential attacks on passersby.
Data from local governments across Bali show that the highest population of rabies-transmitting animals is found in Badung Regency. However, vaccination coverage in the area remains relatively high at 84.58 percent.
To further increase vaccination coverage in 2026, the agency has resumed scheduled vaccination programs and is carrying out door-to-door inspections to identify dogs that have not yet been vaccinated. Sunada said vaccination efforts for 2026 are already underway, with the goal of expanding coverage and preventing rabies transmission to humans.
Separately, Bali’s Health Agency reported that during 2025, a total of 66,760 people were bitten by rabies-transmitting animals. Of those cases, 16 resulted in death after the victims did not seek medical treatment or receive human anti-rabies vaccination.
Authorities continue to urge the public to ensure pets are vaccinated and to seek immediate medical care following any animal bite to reduce the risk of rabies-related fatalities.