Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa's cause of death was confirmed to be hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in March 2025, but what exactly is hantavirus, and how can you catch it?
Keep reading to find out everything to know about hantavirus:
SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox
Hantavirus is found in rodents, like rats and mice, and can cause serious illness when exposed to humans, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe lung disease that can be fatal, according to the New York Department of Health.
What is the most common way to get hantavirus?
People can become infected with hantavirus from contact with rodents, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, per the CDC. Though it can also be spread through rodent bites or scratches, it is rare.
Related: What Are the Complications of a Liver Transplant? What We Know After Michelle Trachtenberg's Death
Breathing in the virus is the most common way to get infected. Exposure to the virus in poorly ventilated areas, such as households with an active rodent infestation, increases the risk of infection.
According to the CDC, it can take anywhere from one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent for symptoms to show. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches (especially large muscle groups like thighs, hips and back). Other symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and general pain.
The late symptoms after the initial phase of the disease include coughing and shortness of breath, and some people may experience chest tightness as fluid fills the lungs.
Related: A Startling New Study Found That 75% of Past COVID Patients May Suffer From This Heart Condition
How is hantavirus treated?
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus.
No, hantavirus cannot be spread from human to human.
How did Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa die?
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home in February 2025.
On March 7, 2025, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said during a press conference that Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. She was 65.
Though Hackman tested negative for hantavirus, Jarrell said the legendary actor likely died of natural causes, adding that Hackman — who was 95 at the time of his death — was hypertensive, had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease, which she said was a "significant contributory factor."
Related: Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Seen During Final Public Appearance Year Before Death
Hence then, the article about what is hantavirus what we know about gene hackman s wife betsy s cause of death was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( What Is Hantavirus? What We Know About Gene Hackman's Wife Betsy's Cause of Death )
Also on site :
- Iranian Foreign Minister spokesperson in exclusive interview discusses cause of the war and Iran’s stance
- Walmart’s 'Very Sturdy' $53 3-Piece Patio Set Is Perfect for Small-Space Entertaining
- AI success is a leadership test—and the 100 Best Companies lead the way