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 officials announced Friday.
Arakawa last left the Santa Fe, New Mexico, mansion she shared with Hackman on Feb. 11, which was also the last time she sent any 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.
Here’s everything you need to know about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
How you get it
Humans get hantaviruses through contact with infected rodents, either by inhaling virus particles from rodent droppings or nesting materials, eating food contaminated with mouse saliva, urine or droppings or being bitten or scratched by a rat carrying the virus.
In the US, most infections occur west of the Mississippi River.
Deer mice are the most common culprit in North America, but there are others as well. Rice rats and cotton rats are carriers in the Southeast and white-footed mice in the Northeast.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
