Udayana travel-medicine expert details three-step mosquito-risk plan for Bali

Denpasar — — Visitors to Bali are being urged to follow a three-stage travel-medicine routine to manage mosquito-borne disease risks, including Zika, according to a specialist from Udayana University’s Faculty of Medicine speaking to Indonesia’s public broadcaster at the end of August 2026.

Dr. dr. Cokorda Agung Wahyu Purnamasidhi, MBiomed., SpPD, head of the Travel Medicine Unit at Udayana’s medical faculty, told RRI that travellers should pay attention to their health beforeduringafter

Before departure: consult and check destination risks

In the pre-travel stage, Cokorda advised travellers to seek information on health conditions in their destination and to consult a doctor before departure, especially if they plan to visit areas with specific infectious-disease risks.

He said travel medicine should be tailored to both the destination and the traveller’s planned activities, noting that many visitors may not be aware which diseases are circulating in the places they intend to visit.

According to his explanation, reliable health information and a pre-travel medical consultation are key to determining appropriate precautions, including vaccines, preventive medications and personal protection measures.

During travel: protect against mosquito bites

For the second stage, during travel, the Udayana specialist highlighted that outdoor activities can increase exposure to mosquito bites compared with staying indoors, and that visitors should adjust their protection based on what they are doing.

He recommended that travellers to destinations with Zika risk use mosquito repellent and wear long-sleeved or otherwise skin-covering clothing to reduce the chance of bites.

Cokorda also cautioned against assuming mosquitoes only bite at night, urging people to maintain bite-prevention measures throughout the day because mosquito activity can vary.

Key points from his advice include:

• Travel medicine involves three stages: pre-travel, during travel and post-travel.
• Outdoor activities can increase exposure to mosquito bites, requiring stronger protection.
• Mosquito repellent and skin-covering clothing are recommended preventive measures in areas with Zika or other mosquito-borne diseases.

After returning: monitor health and seek care if needed

In the post-travel stage, Cokorda urged travellers to monitor their health after returning and to seek medical examination if they develop symptoms or believe they may have been exposed to an infectious disease during their trip.

He explained that the interval between a mosquito bite and the onset of clinical manifestations can be around one to two weeks, and emphasised that Zika is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than through ordinary direct contact such as shaking hands or casual encounters.

Travellers who become unwell after visiting areas with mosquito-borne disease risk are advised to inform health professionals about their recent travel and possible exposure to mosquitoes so that appropriate testing and follow-up can be arranged.

Community role: controlling mosquito breeding

Cokorda stressed that preventing Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases also requires action by residents and communities to reduce mosquito populations.

His recommendations include draining and cleaning water containers, covering containers that could hold water, eliminating standing water and using larvicide powder such as abate where appropriate, alongside the involvement of community mosquito-larva monitoring cadres (Jumantik).

He noted that hot weather followed by rain can accelerate mosquito breeding, making regular environmental management crucial to reduce the mosquito vectors needed for transmission.

These measures align with wider public-health guidance in Bali, where provincial health authorities have called for routine application of the “3M Plus” approach — draining water storage, covering potential breeding containers and recycling or removing items that can collect water, combined with use of mosquito repellent, bed nets or other protection to prevent bites.

Zika status in Bali and official advice

Cokorda’s comments came as Bali’s health authorities stepped up vigilance around Zika following reports of a case linked to travel, but they do not constitute an official travel restriction.

The head of Bali’s Provincial Health Office, Dr. Nyoman Gde Anom, stated that routine surveillance data from district and city health offices and hospitals across Bali had not identified any confirmed local Zika cases in the province as of late August 2026, and said that Zika had not been confirmed as spreading in Bali.

Health officials have instead urged both residents and domestic and international visitors to maintain clean and healthy behaviour, keep their surroundings free of mosquito breeding sites and seek medical care if they develop symptoms that could be consistent with Zika or other mosquito-borne infections.

According to Cokorda, Bali’s high international visitor mobility means travellers arriving from areas where Zika or other viruses circulate could theoretically carry a virus into the island, and local mosquitoes could become part of a transmission chain if conditions allow, reinforcing the need for consistent prevention and early health checks before, during and after travel.

He and Bali’s health authorities have both urged the public and visitors not to panic, but to focus on practical prevention, environmental management and prompt medical consultation rather than cancelling trips solely because of Zika concerns.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – Bali Tinggi Mobilitas Wisatawan, Penerapan Travel Medicine Jadi Kunci Utama
• Radar Bali (Jawa Pos Group) – Waspada! Perkuat Seluruh Faskes dengan Sistem Deteksi Cegah Virus Zika di Bali Nihil Temuan
• Bali Post – Cegah Masuknya Virus Zika ke Bali, Dinkes Tingkatkan Kewaspadaan