There is growing concern for the health of visitors to Bali after new figures showed the island has one of the highest rates of dengue fever in Indonesia.
Dr. Gede Wira Sunetra, head of tropical and contagious diseases at Bali Health Agency, has called on the province to improve its health standards.
"A rising population and crowded housing complexes with poor water and sanitation have all contributed to the rise of dengue cases in Bali," he told the Jakarta Post.
Based on data from the health agency, 5,870 dengue cases occurred on the island in 2013, with Denpasar hit with the highest number at 1,682 cases.
"We are already entering the wet season, the perfect time for mosquitos to breed," Dr Sunetra said.
In October Bali holidaymakers were warned to watch for measles symptoms after four West Australian travellers contracted the disease after returning from Indonesia.
Figures from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency reveal that of the near 2.5 million arrivals in Bali from January to September 2013, more than 600,000 came from Australia.
