A mother has issued a cautionary tale after her daughter was bitten by a monkey in Bali, necessitating a rabies vaccination. Flavia McDonald traveled to the Indonesian island with her husband and 12-year-old daughter Lorana on Father’s Day for a spontaneous family getaway to strengthen their bond.

Despite the gloomy weather, the family was determined to make the most of their holiday by venturing from their Seminyak hotel to the renowned monkey forest in Ubud. Flavia shared that their decision to visit Ubud was to experience something unique and enjoyable, planning a half-day trip before returning to Seminyak by noon due to predicted storms in the afternoon.

Upon their arrival at the sanctuary, the park was bustling with visitors. Despite being familiar with the park, Flavia noted the unusual crowd size likely due to the weather conditions. The family adhered to safety instructions regarding the monkeys, ensuring they did not carry open bags, sunglasses, or hats that could be snatched by the primates.

During their stroll in a designated area of the park, a monkey suddenly leaped onto Flavia’s husband’s shoulders before landing on Lorana. The incident left Lorana frozen in fear, prompting the monkey to bite her neck as Flavia cautiously approached to shoo it away. The swift attack left a visible bite mark on Lorana’s neck, causing her to go into shock.

Following the incident, Lorana received first aid treatment where staff initially dismissed rabies concerns, citing the cleanliness of monkeys. Despite the initial treatment with soap and water, Flavia was concerned about potential rabies transmission and promptly sought a rabies shot for her daughter, incurring a substantial cost of 69 million Indonesian Rupiah (£3,084).

The family had to dip into personal funds to cover the unexpected medical expenses. Lorana underwent a series of injections and medications, including treatment for herpes virus B infection. Flavia recounted the distressing experience of witnessing her daughter endure the painful injections at the hospital.

Following a surge in rabies infections in Bali, Australians were alerted to the risk of rabies in Indonesia by Smart Traveller. Flavia expressed regret over not being more informed about the potential risks, emphasizing that the incident had marred their trip.