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.
134 articles
closeClear filtersDying for a Drink
The lists of countries with unregulated bars that’ll pour you a deadly, illicitly produced drink containing methanol are many and growing. Numerous outbreaks due to drinking fake alcohol in recent years were reported in Cambodia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, India, Kenya, Libya, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Turkey — even normally vice-free Norway. But it’s the young travelers
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
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
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
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.
Methanol Training / Workshop with Liam Foundation
Lhani Davies has set up the Life Saving Initiatives Against Methanol Foundation (LIAM) to raise awareness about the dangers of tainted, unregulated alcoholic drinks in some of the lower-end tourism spots in Indonesia. Davies shared her knowledge August 28 with speaker Dr. Wayan Sudana Sp.PD. KGH from Sanglah Hospital, an event hosted by BIMC
“Rabies : Asia’s Invisible Killer”
Bali may be regarded as paradise on earth, but it also offers serious health risks that are almost invisible. One of these is rabies, a disease now unknown in Australia, Japan, much of Europe and elsewhere in the West. However, residents and medical workers in Bali cannot forget the epidemic of the bite-transmitted infection that
What Kind of Sunburn Leads to Cancer?
Bali is an outdoor place, justly praised for its beaches and world-class surfing, its dedication to enjoying unspoiled nature. It’s benevolent climate year-round tells visitors and residents to slow down, shed some clothing, take a walk, relax. That’s why there are so many happy people here, year after year, Bali is one of the
International Students Discover Medical Tourism
Forty students from Udayana University International Summer School program visited BIMC Nusa Dua on July 6. The program provided cross-cultural awareness in travel medicine, namely vaccinations, required for tourists visiting various countries. Students toured BIMC hospital’s facilities learning of emporiatrics, the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and management of health concerns faced by international
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Surfaces in Asia
The South Korean Health Ministry reported four new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) June 25 and said the outbreak was at a crossroads, backing off from its earlier view that the spread of the often-deadly virus had leveled off. The more guarded assessment came as the government extended the partial shutdown of Samsung
Uncommon Yet You Need to be Aware of Japanese Encephalitis
Dengue fever remains the most common mosquito borne disease in Bali. However Japanese Encephalitis is much more severe with more reported cases year after year. The disease is essentially a brain infection and can be potentially lethal and those who survive often recover with neurological complications. The disease is most often contracted in rural parts of S.E
The Truth About Bali Belly
Bali has many experiences to offer such as the artwork, surfing, cultural attractions. However one other encounter you won’t forget is gastroenteritis or, as it is commonly referred to, ”Bali Belly.” Another term used to describe Bali Belly is traveller’s diarrhoea which many are familiar with because it happens to as many as 50% of
Elevated Dengue Numbers in Bali
The year’s rainy season has witnessed a spike in dengue fever with BIMC Hospitals Bali receiving more cases than previous years. Know the facts and keep safe. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus, transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito characterized by white dots on its abdomen and legs. It
Could it be dengue?
Most people traveling to the tropics will be advised to avoid mosquito bites, not just because mosquito bites are aggravating; but also because some mosquitoes are capable of carrying and spreading certain infections. One among those would be Dengue virus (DENV), which can infect humans and cause Dengue fever and its more severe form, Dengue
Bali Travel Tips: Staying Healthy
Traveling exposes your health to a number of threats, some minor others potentially dangerous. A lot of travel destinations, especially a tropical destination such as Bali, have germs and bacteria that do not exist in many travelers’ home countries. Travel itself can cause a host of health problems, too. Flying, for example, increases the chance
Swimmer itch
What is a Swimmer’s Itch? Swimmer’s itch is a skin rash caused by a parasite (shistosomes) which ordinarily infect birds, semi-aquatic mammals, and snails. Common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, ducks, geese, swans, muskrats and moles have been found to carry the parasite. As part of their developmental life-cycle, these parasites are released from infected snails, migrate
Things to Know About Rabies
By: dr. Maria Dewi Rabies is a zoonotic disease, a disease of animals that can infect humans. It is a serious and fatal disease. Until recently, there is no proven effective treatment, despite the medical advances. However, there are proven effective preventions. Rabid Animals Almost any wild or domestic animal can potentially get rabies. The
Typhoid Fever: Stay Vigilant
Typhoid fever or Enteric fever is a systemic acute illness associated with fever and digestive problems that is most often caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. Typhoid fever is contracted by the ingestion of the bacteria in contaminated food or water. The bacterium multiplies in the gallbladder, bile ducts, or liver and passes into the
Stay away from Malaria
About 50 per cent of Indonesia’s population is at risk of malaria, with the most affected area in the eastern parts of Indonesia, from East Nusa Tenggara to Maluku and Papua. The areas covering Sumatera, Kalimantan and Sulawesi are considered to have medium levels of malarial transmission whereas Bali and Jakarta have zero to low
Medical Attention in Indonesia
There are several ways to seek medical attention during your time in Indonesia: Hotel or home visit by a clinic, hospital or doctor General practitioner consultation Specialist consultation Emergency consultation Emergency service Hotel or home visit Most clinics and private hospitals provide hotel and home visit service. A doctor will come to your address for
Facts On Travel and Health
You might want to know the health facts for travelers. Here are the facts, including estimation of the risk of getting sick from traveling. The basic facts 8 million travelers travel to a developing country. 1 in 10 seek medical care after travel 64% report 1 or more illnesses during travel 26% are ill upon
Typhoid Fever
Ever since the first bacterium of Salmonella was found in 1894, scientists have identified over 2300 Salmonella organisms. Salmonella typhi is one most important species in travel medicine as the cause of typhoid fever. The bacteria can be introduced in the human body from contaminated food or water. Most bacteria will be killed when it
Bali Rabies – Update
Since the emergence of rabies in Bali in late 2008, this viral disease has been problematic for the government. One of the factors causing difficulties in the eradication of rabies on the island is the Balinese culture towards dogs. The Balinese people have close companionships with dogs, even with the strays. They tend to let