Betsy Arakawa — the classical pianist married to Gene Hackman — died last month of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease linked to rodents, New Mexico authorities announced Friday.
Hantavirus patients can develop flu-like symptoms that quickly progress to breathing difficulties. The condition can significantly damage lung tissue, causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs, leading to serious lung and heart problems.
Arakawa last left the Santa Fe, New Mexico, mansion she shared with Hackman on Feb. 11, which was also when she last sent communications, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
She likely died of the virus that day, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said at Friday’s news conference.
Hackman — who had late-stage Alzheimer’s disease — likely died about a week after his wife, from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.
The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered at their Santa Fe home on Feb. 26.
Here’s everything you need to know about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
How you get it
Humans primarily contract hantavirus by inhaling particles from infected rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials.
Infection can also occur by eating food contaminated with mouse saliva, urine or droppings or rarely, by being bitten or scratched by a rat carrying the virus. The virus is not typically spread from person to person.
In the US, over 90% of infections occur west of the Mississippi River.
Sin Nombre virus is the most common cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Deer mice are the main culprit in North America and New Mexico, but there are others as well. Rice rats and cotton rats are carriers in the Southeast and white-footed mice in the Northeast.
Around 865 cases of the disease were reported in the US between 1993 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New Mexico had the most cases (122) during that period. Most patients were white men in their late 30s.
The disease is fatal in humans about 40% of the time, according to New Mexico health officials.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start a week to eight weeks after exposure. Breathing problems may begin four to 10 days after initial symptoms.
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Stomach pain
Treatment options
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Oxygen therapy and a ventilator may be needed.
How to reduce hantavirus risk
- Trap all mice.
- Air out closed spaces where the mice made their home.
- Use a disinfectant to soak down nests and droppings.
- Don’t sweep rodent droppings into the air.
- Move hay, wood and compost piles far from your home.
- Get rid of trash and junk piles that could draw rodents.
- Don’t leave your pet’s food and water where mice can reach it.
