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Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had their cause of deaths shared by New Mexico health officials Friday, with Hackman dying of a form of heart disease and Arakawa dying of hantavirus—marking a rare case of the disease typically spread through rodents.
Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. … [+]
Key Facts
Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner in the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, said Friday that Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a “severe and potentially fatal disease” affecting the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Investigators said there were signs of rodent entry in some parts of the property Hackman and Arakawa lived on, though they were not able to conclude how exactly Arakawa contracted the virus.
Hackman’s cause of death was heart disease, specifically hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is characterized by high blood pressure and plaque buildup in the arteries.
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How Is Hantavirus Contracted?
The serious family of viruses is contracted by contact with rodents such as rats and mice, according to the CDC, which noted rodent urine, droppings and saliva could lead to infection. Rodent bites and scratches can rarely cause infection. The Mayo Clinic says the most common carrier of hantaviruses in North America is the deer mouse, though different strains of the virus family are carried by different animals.
What Are The Early Signs Of Hantavirus?
Early signs of hantavirus are characterized by flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue, the CDC reported, noting the symptoms are “easily confused” with the flu.
What Are Hantavirus’ Symptoms?
Hantaviruses can cause two syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The first syndrome, which was Arakawa’s cause of death, has symptoms such as fatigue, fever, muscle aches in large muscle groups, headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain, all of which can show anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent. Late symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome include coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness as lungs fill with fluid. HFRS symptoms usually start one to two weeks after exposure and can initially include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea and blurred vision. Later symptoms, according to the CDC, include low blood pressure, lack of blood flow, internal bleeding and acute kidney failure. Recovery can take several weeks to months.
How Serious Is Hantavirus?
Some 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the CDC reported. New Mexico state public health veterinarian Erin Phipps said Friday 42% of the state’s cases have been fatal.
Is Hantavirus Rare?
Yes—very. The CDC has recorded just 864 cases between 1993, when the disease was first surveilled, and 2022. Most of the cases through 2022 have been reported in New Mexico (122), Colorado (119), Arizona (86) and California (78), according to the CDC, which reported 94% of hantavirus infections have occurred west of the Mississippi River. New Mexico has identified between one and seven hantavirus infections in people annually through the end of 2024, according to Phipps. Surveillance of the disease began after a 1993 outbreak near the Four Corners, where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah meet.
How Is Hantavirus Diagnosed?
The CDC says it is difficult to diagnose a person infected with the virus for less than three days. Initial tests conducted before the virus can be found are repeated three days after symptoms start. The CDC says people who suspect they have hantavirus should “see a physician immediately and mention a potential rodent exposure.”
Is There A Treatment For Hantavirus?
No, there is no specific treatment for the illness, according to the Mayo Clinic, which notes the best protection patients have is to “avoid contact with rodents and safely clean up rodent habitats.”
Key Background
Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths last month were initially considered “suspicious” by authorities, as the two were found dead together in their home. Hackman, 95, was found on the floor in the home’s mud room and Arakawa was found lying on her side in a bathroom with unspecified pills scattered on a nearby counter, according to a search warrant affidavit reviewed by ABC News. Officials later found they both tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigators have said it is likely Arakawa died first, as Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Hackman was likely home with his deceased wife for several days, noting the actor’s “advanced” Alzheimer’s made him unaware of her death.
Further Reading
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease—And Wife Killed By Rare Mouse-Borne Virus, Officials Say (Forbes)
