Latest news with #TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, while wife died of hantavirus: Officials
The causes of deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were revealed by authorities on Friday, more than one week after the couple was mysteriously found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. Hackman died from "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor," Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for the state's Office of the Medical Investigator, said. "Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma, and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic High Blood Pressure." Hackman probably died around Feb. 18 and his wife likely died around Feb. 11, she said. Hackman was likely home with his deceased wife for one week before he died, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said. Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, officials said. MORE: Gene Hackman's 2 surviving dogs are 'safe and adjusting,' friend says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the disease "initially causes flu-like symptoms that can progress to more severe illness where people have trouble breathing." The Academy Award-winning actor, 95, and his wife, 65, were found dead during a Feb. 26 welfare check, with no obvious signs of how they died, the sheriff's office said. Authorities said last week that the couple tested negative for carbon monoxide. The New Mexico Gas Company also concluded its investigation for carbon monoxide at the home, saying there were "no significant findings" of leaks. Authorities said last week that their deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to a search warrant affidavit. MORE: Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning star of 'Hoosiers' and 'Unforgiven,' dies at 95 Hackman was discovered on the floor in the mud room, according to the search warrant. It appeared he fell suddenly, and he and his wife "showed obvious signs of death," the document said. Hackman is believed to have died on Feb. 17 -- nine days before the bodies were found -- Mendoza said, noting that was the date of the last recorded "event" on his pacemaker. Arakawa was found lying on her side on the floor in a bathroom, with a space heater near her body, according to the search warrant. Her body showed signs of decomposition; there was mummification to her hands and feet, the document said. MORE: Gene Hackman and his wife test negative for carbon monoxide after mysteriously found dead On the counter near Arakawa was an opened prescription bottle, with pills scattered, according to the search warrant. One of the couple's three dogs was found dead in a crate about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa's body, officials said. But their two other dogs were found alive. It appeared they had access to a doggy door; one dog was found near Arakawa's body and the other was located outside, according to Mendoza. Gene Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, while wife died of hantavirus: Officials originally appeared on
Axios
04-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
CDC sends disease experts to Texas as measles cases rise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday sent federal disease experts to assist in the response to the intensifying measles outbreak in Texas Why it matters: The move indicates that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and the Trump administration are starting to prioritize the response after Kennedy downplayed the threat last week, describing such outbreaks as "not unusual." Driving the news: The CDC announced on X that it is partnering with the Texas Department of State Health Services to respond to the measles outbreak. The partnership, known as an Epi-Aid, is a rapid-response effort in which the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service provides local officials onsite support for one to three weeks. Zoom in: At least 159 measles cases have been confirmed, with 22 of the patients been hospitalized. state officials said Tuesday. Texas announced last week that a school-age child who was not vaccinated and had no underlying health conditions was the first death in the outbreak. What they're saying:"The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health," Kennedy said. "By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation," he added. Kennedy on Tuesday also claimed on Fox News Channel Tuesday that doctors treated "over 108 patients" and are "getting very, very good results" from unconventional treatments, including the steroid budesonide and cod liver oil. The steroid is more commonly used to treat asthma, mild to moderate active Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and other inflammatory conditions. Zoom out: Kennedy, a leading vaccine critic, wrote in an Fox News Digital on Sunday that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine "is crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease." But Kennedy emphasized that the decision to vaccinate is "a personal one." Go deeper: RFK Jr. urges people to get vaccinated amid deadly Texas outbreak
