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A mother of two reportedly died in front of her children after being bit by the family's pet hamster in Spain, according to a local newspaper via the Mirror.
The 38-year-old woman, a Colombian national whose name wasn't publicly revealed, collapsed outside a health center where she and her two children, ages 17 and 11, were attempting to get her medical aid for the bite. An autopsy is expected to determine whether the bite contributed to her death, however, it's not clear whether it had already taken place as results aren't normally released to the public in Spain.
The woman was reported to be a few feet from the Accident and Emergency department door when she collapsed at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Friday (October 11). Health workers rushed outside and attempted to resuscitate her but were unable to save her life, according to the newspaper.
Rabies and bacterial infections can be transmitted through the bite of an infected hamster to people on rare occasions. Hamster owners are advised to wash the wound if bitten to reduce the risk of any potential issues.
In 2007, a man in the United Kingdom went into anaphylactic shock after being bit by a hamster. Stuart Philip, a paramedic, told the Mirror that the man's 7-year-old daughter took the pet out of its cage during the "highly unusual situation."