An Australian mother has issued a warning after a monkey bite in Bali left her 12-year-old daughter needing a rabies injection in the neck. Flavia McDonald was on a family holiday in Ubud's famous monkey forest when the attack occurred.
Despite following safety guidelines, a monkey jumped onto her husband's shoulders before leaping onto her daughter Lorana. Paralysed with fear, the girl was bitten on the neck within seconds. Staff at the park initially dismissed rabies concerns, claiming the monkeys were 'very clean'.
However, Flavia insisted on medical treatment. At a clinic, her daughter received four injections – two in the bite area, one in the arm and one in the leg – costing 69 million Indonesian Rupiah (£3,084). The family had to cover the cost themselves.
Flavia said she had never heard her daughter scream like she did during the procedure. Lorana is also taking medication for herpes virus B infection. The mother warned that rabies is 100 per cent fatal and urged other travellers to be aware of the risks.
