Hantavirus can lead to severe respiratory issues, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). While rare, it poses serious health risks, prompting health experts to advocate for preventative measures following the recent high-profile case.
Understanding Hantavirus: The Illness Linked to Gene Hackman's Wife's Death
Understanding Hantavirus: The Illness Linked to Gene Hackman's Wife's Death
The recent death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, due to Hantavirus highlights the dangers of this rare disease transmitted by rodents.
Betsy Arakawa, the wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, has tragically passed away due to a respiratory illness associated with hantavirus, a rare disease that is primarily transmitted through infected rodents, health officials have confirmed. Experts emphasize that hantavirus can lead to flu-like symptoms after exposure to rodent droppings, with severe cases potentially escalating into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a life-threatening lung condition. Investigators suspect that Ms. Arakawa contracted HPS, which ultimately resulted in her death.
Reports suggest that she died shortly before her husband, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease. Their bodies were discovered in their New Mexico residence last month. So, what exactly is hantavirus?
Hantavirus refers to various strains of viruses carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through the inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections usually occur when the virus becomes airborne from a rodent's urine, droppings, or saliva. While rare, the virus can additionally spread through bites or scratches from infected rodents, with deer mice being the most common carriers in North America, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hantavirus can lead to two significant illnesses. The more common Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) was identified as the illness that caused Ms. Arakawa's death. Symptoms like fatigue, fever, and muscle aches typically emerge first, followed by headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal discomfort. If respiratory complications arise, the mortality rate can be as high as 38%, the CDC reports. The second condition, Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome, is even more severe and primarily impairs kidney function.
In terms of incidence, the CDC has documented 864 cases of hantavirus in the U.S. between 1993 and 2022, with a concentration of cases in rural areas of Western states, including California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The CDC initiated surveillance for hantavirus diseases in 1993 during a significant outbreak in the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge. Globally, about 150,000 cases of Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome occur each year, with over half of these cases reported in China.
Currently, no specific treatment exists for hantavirus infections. The CDC recommends supportive care to alleviate symptoms, with some patients requiring hospitalization and potentially intubation in severe instances. Precautions, including eliminating rodent access in homes and sealing any entry points, are highly advised, as is the use of protective gear when cleaning remnants of rodent activity to avoid inhaling contaminated air.
