The Bali Hotels Association has circulated the agency’s advice in the hope of preventing panic among visitors to the island.
A top Bali health official has rubbished a report that the resort island was experiencing an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE), a deadly viral infection.
“There have been no reported cases of JE in Bali since April,” Bali Health Agency head Ketut Suarjaya said.
“I can assure you that the island is not experiencing any disease outbreak at the moment, let alone a JE outbreak,”
The Bali Hotels Association has circulated the agency’s advice in the hope of preventing panic among visitors to the island.
A viral infection of the brain caused by the JE virus, which is commonly spread by infected mosquitos, could cause brain inflammation, which takes place five to 15 days after infection. Symptoms associated with JE include nausea, vomiting, headache, fever and confusion.
Suarjaya disclosed that in April, the health authority had carried out a island-wide JE vaccination drive targeting more than 960,000 children aged 9 months to 15 years old, the most vulnerable group to the infection.
Since the drive, not a single case of JE has been reported to health facilities across the island, the Jakarta Post reported.
Suarjaya acknowledged that Bali had previously recorded the highest number of JE cases in the country, with six confirmed cases in 2014, 22 in 2015 and 17 in 2016.
Bali deputy governor Tjokorda Artha Ardhana Sukawati said Bali was no stranger to negative issues.
“It’s part of being a top tourist destination. The important thing is maintaining an open and honest communication channel,” he said.