A 38-year-old mother of two died in Spain after being bitten by her pet hamster. She reportedly set out for medical help with her children, aged 17 and 11, following the bite.

Collapse and response

The unnamed woman, a Colombian national, collapsed outside a health centre in Villarreal, near Valencia, at around 10.30pm on Friday. Local reports said she was “heading to an A&E” after being bitten by the family pet and was only “a few feet from the front door” when she fell. Health workers rushed out and tried to resuscitate her but could not save her.

Investigation

Police cordoned off the area and removed her body. Authorities said an autopsy is expected to determine whether the bite “contributed to her death,” and a local court is coordinating an investigation.

Medical context

The cause of death has not been confirmed. The report notes that, in rare cases, “rabies and bacterial infections can be transmitted by a bite from an infected hamster.” It also says owners who are bitten are advised to wash the wound to reduce risk.

Why cases are rare

Severe reactions to hamster bites are uncommon, but the article notes past reports involving allergies and breathing difficulties. One hamster expert said: “I have kept hamsters for 20 years and I’ve never heard of this scenario in this country,” adding, “Hamsters don’t normally carry any diseases that would affect humans.”