Photograph by Linsenhejhej
A family are suing the pet shop Petco after a boy died from “rat bite fever” after being bitten by his pet rat.
Aidan Pankey of San Diego, California, had only had his pet rate for a few weeks and he awoke one night with severe stomach ache and a fever according to the lawsuit, having been bitten by the infected animal.
He was quickly taken to hospital, but died only a few hours later, with doctors attributing his death to “rat bite fever”, a streptobacillus moniliformis infection.
Aidan’s parents allege that PetCo should have tested the rat for the disease before selling it to Aidan’s grandmother, and it was this negligence that led to his death.
PetCo have said that they are “saddened” by the boy’s death and are investigating the claims.
