Hamsters might indeed carry disease and such, but doesn't eradicating these kinds of threats right down to the hamster level raise the possibility that kids will become over-sanitized, and thus, suffer life-long by fragile working immune systems?  It's a nice idea that a percentage of kids will be spared salmonella by avoiding such pets, but in exchange, these same kids, growing up under the doctrine of such sanitary protectionism, will wind up with allergies to dust bunnies and water.

Article: Doctors: No Hamster or Exotic Pets