A 38-year-old mother-of-two has died in Spain after being bitten by her pet hamster.
The Colombian national collapsed outside a health centre in Villarreal, near Valencia, on Friday night.
She was en route to seek medical attention following the bite, accompanied by her 17 and 11-year-old children.
The incident occurred at around 10.30 pm, just feet away from the facility’s entrance.
A stock image of a hamsterGETTYDespite immediate efforts by health workers to resuscitate her, the woman could not be saved.
Local authorities cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the unusual circumstances surrounding her death.
An autopsy is expected to determine if the hamster bite contributed to the woman’s death.
A local court is coordinating the ongoing investigation.
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In rare cases, hamster bites can transmit rabies or bacterial infections.
Pet owners are advised to wash any bite wounds to reduce risks.
While such severe reactions are uncommon, there have been previous incidents.
In 2007, a Worcestershire man was hospitalised after suffering an anaphylactic shock following a hamster bite.
Paramedic Stuart Philp described it as “a highly unusual situation” where the patient required multiple adrenaline injections.
West Midlands Ambulance Service stated at the time: “The man suffered a serious and severe reaction to the bite.
“If you have been identified as someone who can have severe reactions it is vital that you and your family know what to do.”
Philp added: “It’s hard to say why this man reacted in this way. It’s just a case of a particular hamster and a particular man – it’s very unlucky.”
Experts stress the importance of being aware of potential allergies and having appropriate medication on hand.
A stock image of a Spanish ambulance
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Despite the alarming nature of these incidents, experts emphasise their rarity.
Wendy Barry, then-secretary of the British Hamster Association, stated in response to the 2007 case: “I have kept hamsters for 20 years and I’ve never heard of this scenario in this country.
“Someone’s immune system would have to be very, very compromised for there to be such drastic consequences.”
Barry added: “Hamsters don’t normally carry any diseases that would affect humans. In fact, there is more chance of a hamster catching something from a human.”