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Forbes
07-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Hantavirus Killed Three More People—How You Can Stay Safe
Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), a possible transmitter of the Hantavirus, 1990. Image courtesy ... More Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) To everyone's surprise, the virus that killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa in February was found to be hantavirus, an uncommon viral infection spread by rodents. Arakawa had called a clinic for feeling 'congested' and was given an appointment. She did not keep that and was later found dead in her home, along with her husband, the prominent actor. Later in February, three more deaths from hantavirus were reported from Mammoth Lakes, California. There was also a cluster of hanta isolates in San Diego in 2018. The first cluster of deaths was noted in 1993 when there were sudden deaths among healthy young people in the Four Corners area of the southwest. They all died from overwhelming lung infection and respiratory failure. Hantavirus infections were found in the deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) living around the homes of those who were ill. The CDC named this strain Sin Nombre virus. This case was fascinating because the clues to solving these mysterious deaths came from Navaho elders. They were attuned to patterns in nature and had noted earlier cyclical clusters of deaths. Why? Each cycle followed a year of increased rainfall (an El Niño year). The abundance of rain meant that there was more food available for the deer mice, whose populations exploded. When there were more mice, people living nearby had more exposure to the rodent urine and droppings, and cases would increase. The Navaho elders were at the forefront of linking changes in climate to infections. Between 1993 and 2022, there were 864 cases of hantavirus reported in the U.S. Almost all the cases were hanta pulmonary infections. The mean age was 39, with 62% male. Most (94%) of the cases occurred west of the Mississippi; 15% were in Hispanic/Latino individuals. The death rate is 34%. There was another notable cluster in 2012 in people staying in tent cabins in Yosemite. Careful epidemiologic investigation found deer mice nesting in the foam of the tent walls. Three of the ten infected died; others were critically ill. Notably, two of the infected patients were from the East Coast, where one would not usually think of hantavirus. The first case of infection on the East Coast was in 1993, when a hiker along the Appalachian Trail became critically ill with multi-organ failure. He became infected from mouse droppings or urine in the shelters he had camped at along the trail. There are other unusual exposures that are often overlooked. I found a hantavirus case in a young construction worker who's job was laying pipes in the ground near Pittsburgh. There was an outbreak of a related hantavirus, Seoul virus, among people who owned pet Norway rats. Mice commonly nest in cars or campers and these can cause hantavirus infections. It's critically important to clean these areas properly and not to aerosolize the droppings or nest materials. A variety of mice and rats serve as the host of hantavirus. Even though the rodents may be asymptomatic, they shed the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. People commonly become infected by inhaling virus-laden contaminated air. People can also become infected by touching infected secretions, and then inoculating themselves by touching their nose, mouth, or eyes with contaminated hands. Hanta is not transmitted from person to person. Hantaviruses are most common in the southwest U.S.; we likely have overlooked them elsewhere simply because we don't look for it. Anyone exposed to mouse droppings is at risk. The highest risk for hantavirus infection is when the aerosolized virus is inhaled, so please don't vacuum or sweep an area contaminated with rodent droppings or secretions unless you have first saturated it with a 1:9 Clorox solution. Hantavirus presents with nondescript symptoms—'congestion,' muscle aches, fever, headache and fatigue. Symptoms begin 1-8 weeks after exposure. They then often progress to more pulmonary symtoms, with cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Many of those infected develop respiratory failure as their lungs fill with fluid and more than a third die. Diagnosing hantavirus is difficult, as most often, it won't be considered until someone develops respiratory failure. Physicians are under increased time constraints, often limited to 15' for a routine appointment. They are unlikely to take a careful, detailed epidemiologic history during this period. Diagnosis is made by sending blood samples to the CDC. It's unknown what their backlog of testing will be now that staffing has been severely cut. There have been massive firings throughout divisions of Health and Human Services. These included 1300 probationary workers at the CDC, including all 50 first-year officers of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service. The EIS is the crown jewel of the CDC, and is essential for identifying new pathogens and solving disease outbreaks. Apparently DOGE rescinded these firings. Thousands more jobs (2400, or 18%) were cut last week; it's unclear what divisions were cut. (Note, I reached out to the CDC for comment; none was received as of the time of publication There is no effective treatment for hantavirus. Patients are given supportive treatment with fluids and oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and blood pressure support for sepsis. The most important public health message is not to aerosolize droppings. When you are cleaning, spray the site and debris thoroughly with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 part water, wait five minutes, then pick up what is left with a paper towel. Spray and wipe up again. Do not vacuum or sweep up droppings! If you are working in your car engine, disconnect the battery first. You might need a mechanic if filter and air hoses need to be replaced. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning droppings up. If you want to be extra safe, wear a mask while cleaning the area. Hantavirus infections are rare. They are likely to occur after winters with abundant rainfall and good crop growth in the spr that will feed mouse populations and enable them to grow. If you become ill after contact with rodent droppings or after any travel, be sure to tell your physician.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is hantavirus, the cause of Gene Hackman's wife's death?
The causes of death have been revealed for actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman, 65. Hackman was found to have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease along with advanced Alzheimer's disease, while his wife likely passed away first from "hantavirus pulmonary syndrome" (HPS), according to New Mexico authorities. Hantaviruses include a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents that can cause severe respiratory or renal diseases in humans, according to Dr. Rhys Parry, a molecular virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia. Gene Hackman Death Timeline: Actor's Final Days With Wife Most hantaviruses that are found in North, Central and South America can cause HPS, the condition that Hackman's wife was found to have, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The hantaviruses that are found throughout the United States are not known to spread between people," the CDC stated. Read On The Fox News App HPS has a nearly 40% fatality rate in those who are infected, according to the above source. "Hantaviruses typically spread when humans breathe in virus particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials," Parry told Fox News Digital. Deadly Virus Samples Went Missing From Lab In 'Major Biosecurity Breach,' Say Authorities The CDC lists the following potential mechanisms of spread: Breathing in contaminated air when cleaning up after rodents Touching contaminated objects and then touching the nose or mouth Getting bitten or scratched by an infected rodent Eating food contaminated with the virus Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, agreed that hantavirus can spread via dust from rodents' saliva, urine and places they touch. The most common type of rodent to carry it in the U.S. is the deer mouse, the doctor noted. Most hantavirus cases are seen in rural areas, where it is more likely for rodents to get into homes or barns, the CDC noted. Hantavirus infections are "incredibly rare," both experts agreed. For more Health articles, visit "This is a pretty sad set of circumstances," Parry noted. "I'm honestly impressed they were able to determine it was HPS after the fact." Siegel added that it rarely affects humans "because only some of the rodents have it, and they don't all come into contact — but one-third to one-half of cases are fatal." Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, fatigue and gastrointestinal issues that appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure, according to Parry. "These progress to serious respiratory symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs four to 10 days later," he said. Sin Nombre virus is the most common hantavirus in the United States, which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome with a mortality rate of approximately 38%. "It typically becomes fatal when the lungs fill with fluid, leading to respiratory failure and insufficient oxygen reaching vital organs," Parry noted. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter There's no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, the expert said, although early intensive care with oxygen therapy and supportive measures is crucial. "Early intensive medical care is critical because patients who have sudden acute disease can rapidly become severely sick and die," the CDC states. "If a patient is experiencing full distress, it is less likely the treatment will be effective." Supportive care can include monitoring heart function, administering fluids and oxygen, and placing the patient on a ventilator as needed. Patients may receive broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, fever reducers and pain relievers. "Prevention focuses on rodent control, proper cleaning of infested areas with protective equipment and avoiding exposure to rodent habitats," Parry article source: What is hantavirus, the cause of Gene Hackman's wife's death?
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare hantavirus that killed Gene Hackman's wife surged in Arizona in 2024
Concerns about the rare hantavirus are circulating online following reports that Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away from the virus just days before Hackman himself succumbed to heart disease. This week, state and local officials released a probable cause of death for the couple, who were found dead last month in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer's disease, tested negative for hantavirus. He passed away a few days after his wife due to heart disease. Authorities noted that in his final days, Hackman may not have been aware of his wife's passing or his surroundings. Arakawa's cause of death being linked to hantavirus came as a shock to many, given the virus' rarity – only 864 cases were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1993 and 2022. Last year, The Arizona Republic reported two hantavirus-related deaths in Coconino County, Arizona. Here's what to know. Daylight saving time 2025: When to 'spring forward' for time change and why we do it Hantavirus causes a potentially fatal illness known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which can lead to fever, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. Last year, hantavirus was more prevalent than usual in Arizona. The state typically sees about three cases per year, but by July, at least seven confirmed cases had been reported. This included three fatalities, two of which occurred in Coconino County. Earlier this year, a case in New Mexico also resulted in death. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), the disease caused by hantavirus, is primarily spread by wild rodents, particularly deer mice. According to Coconino County health officials, the virus is not confined to a single location and can be found anywhere in the Southwest. The virus is not spread from person to person. Hantavirus is usually spread from rodents through viral droplets agitated from stirring up material contaminated with rodent urine, saliva or feces. HPS appeared in a person with a fever, headache, muscle aches and difficulty breathing, according to Coconino County health officials. Symptoms can worsen very quickly, with fluid buildup in the lungs posing possibly the most risk. It's unclear why there has been a recent surge in hantavirus cases. Former Arizona Department of Health Services Director Cara Christ noted in a 2017 blog post that the spread of hantavirus is sporadic and typically confined to northern areas of Arizona. The Arizona Republic reported that Native American communities are especially at risk. HPS first emerged in 1993 when members of the Navajo Nation near the Four Corners region experienced symptoms such as fever, chills, and cough. The outbreak had a fatality rate of about 80%. The outbreak on the Navajo Nation led to the discovery of what is now known as the Sin Nombre virus, the most common strain of hantavirus in the U.S., according to the CDC in a study on hantavirus. The CDC discovered that the 1993 outbreak was partly caused by residents cleaning or moving into previously vacant structures and coming into contact with items or areas contaminated with the virus. That year, the region experienced a 10-fold increase in the deer mouse population, researchers found. The best way to protect yourself from hantavirus is to avoid contact with rodents and keep your home rodent-free. Sealing any potential entry points, conducting regular pest inspections, and ensuring proper home ventilation can help reduce the risk of exposure. Individuals who are frequently exposed to animals are at higher risk. Contributing: Rey Covarrubias Jr., Arizona Republic, and Mike Snider, USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hantavirus that killed Gene Hackman's wife saw Arizona surge in 2024
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare virus that killed Gene Hackman's wife surged in Arizona in 2024
Concerns about the rare hantavirus are circulating online following reports that Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away from the virus just days before Hackman himself succumbed to heart disease. This week, officials released a probable cause of death for the couple, confirming that Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer's disease, tested negative for hantavirus. He passed away a few days after his wife due to heart disease. Authorities noted that in his final days, Hackman may not have been aware of his wife's passing or his surroundings. Arakawa's cause of death being linked to hantavirus came as a shock to many, given the virus' rarity; only 864 cases were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1993 and 2022. Last year, The Arizona Republic reported two hantavirus-related deaths in Coconino County, Arizona. Here's what to know. Hantavirus causes a potentially fatal illness known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can lead to fever, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. Last year, hantavirus was more prevalent than usual in Arizona. The state typically sees around three cases per year, but by July, at least seven confirmed cases had been reported. This included three fatalities, two of which occurred in Coconino County. Earlier this year, a case in New Mexico also resulted in death. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the disease caused by hantavirus, is primarily spread by wild rodents, particularly deer mice. According to Coconino County health officials, the virus is not confined to a single location and can be found anywhere in the Southwest. The virus is not spread from person to person. Hantavirus is usually spread from rodents through viral droplets agitated from stirring up material contaminated with rodent urine, saliva or feces. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome appeared in a person with a fever, headache, muscle aches and difficulty breathing, according to Coconino County health officials. Symptoms can worsen very quickly, with fluid buildup in the lungs posing possibly the most risk. It's unclear why there has been a recent surge in hantavirus cases. Former Arizona Department of Health Services Director Cara Christ noted in a 2017 blog post that the spread of hantavirus is sporadic and typically confined to northern areas of Arizona. The Arizona Republic reported that Native American communities are especially at risk. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the disease caused by hantavirus, first emerged in 1993 when members of the Navajo Nation near the Four Corners region experienced symptoms such as fever, chills, and cough. The outbreak had a fatality rate of around 80%, according to Medscape. The outbreak on the Navajo Nation led to the discovery of what is now known as the Sin Nombre virus, the most common strain of hantavirus in the U.S., according to the CDC in a study on hantavirus. The CDC discovered that the 1993 outbreak was partly caused by residents cleaning or moving into previously vacant structures and coming into contact with items or areas contaminated with the virus. The best way to protect yourself from hantavirus is to avoid contact with rodents and keep your home rodent-free. Sealing any potential entry points, conducting regular pest inspections, and ensuring proper home ventilation can help reduce the risk of exposure. Individuals who are frequently exposed to animals are at higher risk. It's roof rat season in Arizona: How to keep them out of your yard and house Republic reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hantavirus that killed Gene Hackman's wife saw Arizona surge in 2024
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hantavirus: New Mexico's long trail of disease, death
Mar. 7—Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the illness that killed Betsy Arakawa, wife of the legendary actor Gene Hackman, has a history of death and illness dating back decades in New Mexico. The deadly virus has caused illnesses nearly every year in New Mexico since 1993, when the first disease-causing strain of hantavirus in the U.S. — the Sin Nombre virus — was discovered here. Health officials didn't know Friday how Arakawa, 65, may have been exposed to hantavirus, said Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian with the New Mexico Department of Health. "I don't want to speculate about what may or may not have happened with any individual person," Phipps said. "But generally speaking, most people are exposed to hantavirus around their homes or their workplace — places where they spend most of their time." Hackman, 95, was not infected by hantavirus, which is not transmitted from human to human, Phipps said. Hackman died of complications from severe heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, while Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus, the state Office of the Medical Investigator said Friday. Hantavirus burst into attention in 1993, when the first pathogenic form of hantavirus was discovered in New Mexico. That year, the virus infected 18 New Mexicans, of whom eight died. Since 1993, New Mexico has recorded 133 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the clinical name for the disease caused by hantavirus, which has a mortality rate of about 35%. The Sin Nombre virus has been found in a variety of rodents, but deer mice are the primary reservoir, Phipps said. The home where Hackman and Arakawa lived is located in a hilly, isolated area about 20 minutes north of Santa Fe, surrounded by fields, forests and widely spaced homes. Woods and grasslands are ideal habitat for the deer mouse. Hantavirus is transmitted to humans when they inhale the virus in aerosolized rodent droppings. People are most commonly exposed to Sin Nombre virus when they clean out or explore poorly ventilated areas in their homes, cabins or sheds. Although the Sin Nombre virus was identified in 1993, health officials have identified cases dating back to 1975, Phipps said. Most cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome are found in northwestern New Mexico, particularly McKinley County, which had 59 cases from 1975 to 2023, according to Department of Health data.
