Dengue in Bali: the risk, symptoms and the vaccine

How common is dengue in Bali?

Common: Bali recorded 1,588 confirmed cases and 2 deaths from January to July 2026, under 300 cases every month, with a dip in June and July.^{[1, 2]}

That follows 10,391 cases in 2025 and 15,570 in 2024. Badung, home to Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu, had the most cases in 2025, ahead of Gianyar, where Ubud sits.^[3]

Visitors catch it too: dengue has been found in travellers returning to Australia from Indonesia, Bali included.^[5]

When is dengue season in Bali?

Cases are recorded every month, but they climb with the rain. The wet season reaches part of Bali in November 2026 and most of the island by December, and peaks in February 2027.^[6]

Rain is what feeds it. The mosquito lays its eggs just above the water line in bowls, vases, tyres and cups, and the eggs hatch when rain covers them. Standing water left after a downpour is where the next wave of mosquitoes starts.^{[2, 7]}

What are the symptoms of dengue?

Dengue usually starts 4 to 10 days after an infected bite with a high fever, often around 40°C. A severe headache, pain behind the eyes, aching muscles and joints, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and a rash can follow.^[8]

The fever lasts 2 to 7 days, and most people recover within 1 to 2 weeks. Many people have mild symptoms or none, and tiredness can linger for weeks after.^[8]

When should you see a doctor for dengue?

See a doctor as soon as a fever starts in Bali or after you get home, and say where you travelled. The dangerous part often comes after the fever breaks, when it can look as if you are getting better.^{[8, 11]}

Warning signs usually show up 24 to 48 hours after the fever has gone. Go to a clinic or an emergency room straight away if you notice any of these:^{[8, 9]}

• Belly pain or tenderness
• Vomiting at least 3 times in 24 hours
• Bleeding from the nose or gums
• Vomiting blood, or blood in your stool
• Feeling extremely tired, restless or irritable
• Fast breathing, intense thirst, or pale and cold skin

Severe dengue is a medical emergency and can turn life-threatening within a few hours. If you can't get to a clinic yourself, call 118 for an ambulance.^{[9, 10, 11]}

The mistake to avoid is the painkiller. There is no specific medicine for dengue: rest, drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks, and take paracetamol for the fever. Ibuprofen and aspirin raise the risk of bleeding.^{[8, 11]}

How do you avoid dengue in Bali?

Avoiding bites in daylight is the main protection. The mosquito that carries dengue bites during the day, so take extra care in the early morning and late afternoon, when mosquitoes are most active, and know that evening-only repellent misses the risk.^{[5, 8]}

What that means in practice: the hours by the pool, at a café or on a temple visit matter as much as dusk. Pots, bowls and other containers holding water in a villa garden are a breeding ground on your doorstep.^{[7, 8]}

Keep away from stagnant water where you can, because that is where mosquitoes gather in numbers.^{[5, 8]}

Is a second dengue infection worse?

Yes. People who catch dengue a second time are at greater risk of severe dengue.^{[8, 12]}

Should you get the dengue vaccine before Bali?

It depends on whether you have had dengue before and how long you are staying. The vaccine, Qdenga, is two doses three months apart, and the advice differs by home country.^{[12, 14, 15]}

From any other country, ask a travel doctor at home, who will follow your country's own advice.^{[12, 13, 14, 15]}

Timing is the snag. Two doses take three months, but Australian advice is to have the first dose even if the second cannot fit before you fly. Qdenga is not for anyone who is immunocompromised, and is not advised in pregnancy.^{[12, 14]}

Can you get the dengue vaccine in Bali?

It is approved in Indonesia but is not part of a national programme: only 11 of 514 districts and cities run school vaccination. Ask a Bali clinic whether it has the vaccine in stock, and what the full course costs, before you plan around it.^[4]

Indonesia approved Qdenga in 2022 for ages 6 to 45, two doses three months apart. The band may now run from age 4 to 60, given whether or not you have had dengue, so ask the clinic which band it follows before you book.^{[16, 17]}

The three-month gap shapes the decision. Australian advice is that one dose before departure is still worth having, so an Australian visitor does best to start the course at home; someone living in Bali has time for both doses here.^{[12, 16]}