A mother has issued a cautionary tale after her daughter was bitten by a monkey on the neck while they were visiting Bali, leading to the need for a rabies vaccination.
Flavia McDonald traveled to the Indonesian island with her spouse and their 12-year-old daughter, Lorana, on Father’s Day for a spontaneous family vacation. The surprise getaway was intended to bring the family closer together.
Despite the gloomy weather and heavy rain, the family was determined to make the most of their holiday. They decided to venture from their Seminyak hotel to Ubud, known for its famous monkey forest.
Speaking to news.com.au, Flavia explained their decision to visit Ubud for a change of pace and some fun. They planned a half-day trip, hoping to return by noon due to anticipated storms later in the day.
Upon arrival at the sanctuary, which was bustling with visitors, Flavia noticed the increased activity possibly due to the weather conditions. Despite being informed on how to stay safe around the monkeys, the family inadvertently lacked open bags, sunglasses, or hats that the primates could grab.
As they strolled around a section of the park, observing monkeys from a distance, a monkey suddenly leaped onto Flavia’s husband and then onto their daughter. The daughter froze in fear, prompting the monkey to bite her neck within seconds as Flavia approached to shoo it away.
Following the incident, Lorana received first aid where staff initially dismissed concerns about rabies, citing the monkeys’ cleanliness. Despite having the wound cleaned with soap and water, Flavia remained anxious about her daughter’s well-being.
Aware of the urgency of rabies treatment for upper body bites, Flavia promptly took her daughter to a clinic for a rabies shot, incurring a hefty bill of 69 million Indonesian Rupiah (£3,084). She had to dip into personal funds to cover the unexpected expense on the spot.
The treatment involved injections at the bite site, causing immense pain for her daughter, who also had to take medication for herpes virus B infection for two weeks.
Following a rise in rabies cases in Bali, Australians were cautioned about the risks associated with the disease in Indonesia. Flavia expressed regret, stating that had she been more informed, she would have approached the park visit differently, as the incident marred their trip.
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