Basics - The Rough Guide to Bali and Lombok - page 57

If you need an English-speaking doctor , seek advice at your hotel (some of the luxury
ones have in-house doctors). For more serious problems, you'll want to access private clinics
in the main resorts. A couple of places on the outskirts of Kuta have good reputations for
dealing with expat emergencies: Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) and International
SOS offer consultations at the clinic, doctor call-out and ambulance call-out; prices depend
on the time of day or night and distance from the clinic. The only recompression chamber
on Bali is located in Denpasar and there is another on Lombok . In details of local medical
facilities including dentists ( doctor gigi ), are given in the Directory section of each city ac-
count in the Guide.
Major diseases
Bali and Lombok are home to a range of diseases endemic to tropical Southeast Asia, most
of which are not a threat in travellers' home countries. Inoculations are therefore strongly ad-
vised.
Most Western travellers will have had inoculations against polio , tetanus , diphtheria and
tuberculosis during childhood. Travellers should check that they are still covered against
them and have booster injections if necessary.
Typhoid can be lethal and is passed through contaminated food or water. It produces an
extremely high fever, abdominal pains, headaches, diarrhoea and red spots on the body. De-
hydration is the danger here as with all intestinal problems, so take rehydration salts and get
medical help urgently. Inoculation and personal hygiene measures offer the best protection.
Avoid contact with all animals, no matter how cute. Rabies is spread via the saliva of in-
fected animals, most commonly cats, dogs or monkeys; it is endemic throughout Asia and
all visitors to Bali should be aware of the disease. Between late 2008 and mid-2013, at least
137 people have died of rabies. A major culling and vaccination programme is underway and
the government has promised that Bali will be rabies free by 2015. If you get bitten, wash
the wound immediately with antiseptic and get medical help. Treatment involves a course of
injections, but you won't need all of them if you have had a course of predeparture jabs.
Japanese encephalitis is a serious viral illness causing inflammation of the brain. It is en-
demic across Asia and is transmitted from infected birds and animals via mosquitoes. Inocu-
lation is available for those planning extended periods in rural areas who are most at risk,
although it is rare among travellers. The symptoms are variable but flu-like headache, fever
and vomiting are common and the best advice is to seek medical help immediately if you de-
velop these.
There are several strains of hepatitis (caused by viral infections) and vaccines can offer
some protection against some strains. Symptoms in all of them are a yellow colouring of the
skin and eyes, extreme exhaustion, fever and diarrhoea. It's one of the most common illnesses