Rare disease explained after Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa’s death is confirmed to be from hantivirus

Last month (26 February), Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his classical pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in separate rooms in their Santa Fe home.

After their deaths were previously deemed 'suspicious enough' for investigation, with a search warrant from local police revealing that the couple had been dead for 'some time' and were found in different rooms, the cause of their deaths was finally revealed.

In a press conference last Friday (7 March), chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell has confirmed the pair's cause of deaths, explaining that Hackman, 95, passed away due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease around a week after his wife, Arakawa, 65, who is believed to have died February 11th.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's cause of deaths were revealed last Friday (7 March) (Donaldson Collection / Contributor / Getty Images)

Betsy Arakawa's cause of death

Dr Jarrell revealed that Arakawa suffered from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding: "The manner of death is natural.

"Autopsy examination and full body post mortem CT demonstrated no findings of trauma internally or externally with microscopic findings consistent with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome."

According to the medical examiner, laboratory testing was positive for Hantavirus at a clinical lab while testing for Covid-19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses and carbon monoxide was negative.

She continued: "There were no other significant natural disease findings, pills present on scene, or thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death."

Hackman's cause of death was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, while Arakawa's was Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty Images)

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses which can cause serious illnesses and death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.

These viruses cause diseases like hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) - which is what authorities say Arakawa died from.

According to Dr Jarrell, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is clinically characterised by flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure.

The viruses are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person and, according to the CDC, if respiratory symptoms develop, the mortality rate is approximately 38%.

Hackman and Arakawa tied the knot back in 1991 (New York Daily News Archive / Contributor / Getty Images)

What are the symptoms of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Symptoms of HPS usually start to show one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent - e.g. if a person is exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.

Echoing Dr Jarrell's comments, early symptoms can include; fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders.

About half of all HPS patients also experience; headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

How is hantavirus treated?

The CDC notes that there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection, which saw 864 cases in the US between 1993 and 2022.

"Patients should receive supportive care, including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms," the official websites notes.

"HPS can cause breathing difficulties, and patients may need breathing support, such as intubation.

"Intubation is a medical procedure where a tube is placed in the lungs from the mouth to help the patient get oxygen."

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