Health stories from BIMC.
Guidance on staying well in Bali, travel-health advice and updates from across the BIMC network — written by our medical teams.
106 articles
closeClear filtersThe Continuing Fight Against Dengue
Fight Against Dengue — The dengue virus infection incidence has grown dramatically in recent years, with some 390 million infections annually. In January, various news media reported that Jakarta was on alert as cases of dengue fever surged, claiming more than 100 lives across Indonesia since the start of the year. Our country’s Health Ministry
Rabies: 99% Fatal 100% Preventable
Rabies : 99% Fatal 100% Preventable — September 28th is World Rabies Day, the first and only global day of action and awareness for rabies prevention. In Bali it is an opportunity to unite as a community and for individuals, NGOs and governments to connect and share their work. Created and coordinated annually by GARC, World
The Health Risks of Fish Pedicure
Getting a massage while visiting Bali is part of the holiday experience although next time you chose a cosmetic treatment involving dipping your feet in fish tanks, think again. Having fish eat dead skin off your feet may be a trendy (and ticklish) way to exfoliate, but so-called “fish pedicures” could pose health risks. This
World Hepatitis Day : July 28
World Hepatitis Day : July 28 — The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the collaboration between global health partners to discover a cure for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) has shown promising results. In a recent statement released in Abuja ahead of the “World Hepatitis Day” celebrated yearly on July 28, WHO said 50 new anti-HBV
Bali Measles Update
Bali Measles Update — The New South Wales Health department has recently advised travellers to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles infection after the fifth diagnosis of measles in NSW since the beginning of March 2018. Cases include an adult and three infants who acquired their infection while travelling in Asia including Bali.
A Quick Guide to Common Childhood Diseases
A Quick Guide to Common Childhood Diseases — Family health in Bali can have its challenges and when it comes to childhood diseases there are many however here are some of the most common, including viral and bacterial infections. Ear Infections With swimming such an active pursuit throughout this holiday island, ear infections are common,
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month — Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity causing almost all cases of cervical cancer. Just one in five Indonesian women are aware of cervical cancer screening, according to a study presented at the ESMO Asia 2017 Congress. The research in nearly 5,400 women
Measles Remains Issue in Indonesia
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced Bhutan and the Maldives as measles free, having eliminated the infectious viral disease becoming the first countries in their region to stop the highly contagious child killer. WHO said the Maldives has not reported any case of indigenous measles since 2009, and Bhutan since 2012. Bhutan and
Show Your Face and Help Eliminate Hepatitis
This year’s World Hepatitis Day (WHD) held July 28 is not just another calendar date to remind us of greater prevention measures but a day that signals we are one step closer to the elimination of the viral disease. At the 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, 194 governments including Indonesia adopted WHO’s Global Strategy
Careful with Tuberculosis
The Indonesian Health Ministry is getting tough on unreported and unidentified tuberculosis (TB) cases, the country suffering from the second-highest number of unreported cases in the world. The latest global TB report by the World Health Organization (WHO), states as many as 690,000 TB cases in Indonesia may not be detected or reported. Such unreported
Is a Cure for HIV and AIDS Around the Corner?
World AIDS Day falls on December 1 and with numerous reports of advances towards a cure surfacing in a variety of online media, Health-e sorts the fact from the hearsay… Here are the facts There’s no discounting that HIV continues to be a major global public health issue that has claimed more than 35 million
Is Zika Really the Cause of Microcephaly?
An insecticide was recently rumored to be the real cause of increased cases of microcephaly in Brazil, unrelated to the Zika virus according to a group of scientists who claim their studies show the crop protecting spray,pyriproxyfen, is the real culprit. Many take for granted that the Zika virus is the reason for the spate
Rabies Then and Now
In 2011 the Balinese government made a significant effort to curb the spread of rabies through vaccinations and culling however the 500,000 dogs on the island at the time presented enormous challenges they weren’t prepared for. A total of 55 patients were treated, 30 of them succumbing to the fatal virus while 25 tested positive
Two Zika Cases Prompt Australian Advisory to Indonesia
Urging its citizens to protect themselves from mosquito bites and other dangers while traveling in Indonesia,the Australian Dept. of Health website listed the country with “sporadic and limited” Zika virus cases amongst 49 countries with varying degrees of transmission. Sporadic transmission means from time-to-time there is a case yet Indonesia has only two confirmed cases
A New Medical Threat: Antibiotic Resistance
In May a “superbug” that is resistant to colistin — the antibiotic of absolute last resort — was found in a U.S. patient’s urinary tract infection. Colistin is used to treat people infected with a type of bacteria called CRE, or carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. E. coli is one type of enterobacteria, though not all E. coli strains have acquired
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Makes News in Asia
In March a medical research team in Shanghai were reported to have developed an effective antibody that could dramatically curb the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which has been troubling children, mostly in Asia, for decades. As recent as June HFMD reached outbreak proportions in Malaysia prompting its Health Ministry to
Keep Kids Free of Ringworm
Bali schools can often be prime locations to come in contact with ringworm, which is not at all a worm but referred to as “tinea corporis” and easy to treat. Tinea infections are caused by several types of mold-like fungi that thrive on the dead tissue of the skin. In addition to the skin, ringworm
End Malaria for Good
April 25th is World Malaria Day with the fight against the disease still requiring a steadfast approach in most tropical countries, including Indonesia with five provinces showing to still have numerous cases of the parasitic infection. As part of the National Malaria Eradication Program, the Indonesian Ministry of Health is widely distributing mosquito nets and
March 24 is Tuberculosis Awareness Day
BIMC is dedicated to informing Bali residents of just how prevalent TB is and educating them so that they are able to identify the disease early and seek proper treatment. TB kills an estimated 4,400 people a day, a number that is “unacceptably high,” said a World Health Organization alongside HIV as a leading cause
Health Officials: Zika Not New to Indonesia
Erring on the side of caution, Indonesia has taken a number of preventive measures against the Zika virus after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the disease a global emergency. The country has had a limited history of Zika infections that date back to 1978 and 1981 with some new apparent
Talking Dengue at the Bali Island School
On December 16 BIMC General Manager, Cathy Bolwell, gave a talk for parents and teachers at the Bali Island School in Sanur on the topic of dengue fever. Ms Bolwell explained that dengue fever is quite common in Bali. Dengue used to be prevalent during the rainy season that runs from October to April but
Ladies: it’s Cervical Cancer Month
January does not just mark the start of a new year, it’s also Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and here’s what you need to know. Cervical Health Awareness Month hopes to raise awareness of this cancer and the diseases that can cause it and start conversations between women and their physicians that could help stop the
Easiest way to avoid illness
To some, the idea of having an annual Global Handwashing Day (October 15) may cause a smile, but in terms of what it means, it never is something to laugh about. Simply put, hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections, including the common cold and influenza.
Flu season’s coming — Are you ready for it?
The statistics vary from year to year, but influenza along with other respiratory disease is always on Indonesia’s top 10 killer lists, as well as a pandemic that sweeps much of the world. A “seasonal” affliction, the risks usually intensify in late autumn or early winter, so now is the time to get