Gene Hackman's wife dies from rare rodent virus, hantavirus alert in California
Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and deadly disease transmitted by rodents. At the same time, additional cases of hantavirus infection were reported in California, raising concerns among local health services.
Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in New Mexico at the end of February. According to the American weekly "People," the cause of Betsy Hackman's death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), as confirmed by Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the state of New Mexico.
HPS is a rare but deadly disease transmitted by rodents. Meanwhile, in the California city of Mammoth Lakes, there were three deaths attributed to HPS.
Tom Boo, a public health official in Mono County, described the situation as "tragic and alarming." Although rodents had been noticed sporadically at one of the victim's workplaces, no evidence directly links the deaths to virus infection exists.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of rodents such as mice and rats. HPS symptoms develop one to eight weeks after infection, with initial symptoms including fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. In the later stages, there is an escalation of coughing and difficulty breathing.
In a conversation with "People," Tom Boo urged individuals to be aware of rodents and their droppings, as many of us encounter mice in everyday life, which involves some risk. He emphasized the importance of being informed about the threats related to hantavirus and taking appropriate precautions.
Gene Hackman died a few days after his wife due to heart disease, with complications arising from Alzheimer's disease. His death was not related to hantavirus.
