Hong Kong to cull hamsters after possible human COVID transmission

City to ban imports of the rodent, as well as rabbits and chinchillas

20220118 pet hamsters Hong Kong

A pet shop in Hong Kong is seen closed on Tuesday after authorities said that pet hamsters tested positive for the coronavirus, possibly passing it on to an employee.  © AP

PAK YIU, Nikkei staff writer

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong plans to cull 2,000 hamsters and ban their import after some rodents that tested positive for COVID-19 possibly infected a pet shop worker, authorities said Tuesday.

The possible animal-to-human transmission was detected after the employee at the Little Boss pet shop become the first person in the city to contract the Delta variant without a clear transmission path.

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