Betsy Arakawa, the wife of renowned actor Gene Hackman, has tragically passed away due to an infection from hantavirus, officials in New Mexico confirmed on Friday. Hantavirus is a global health concern, primarily transmitted through contact with rodents or their waste materials, though it is not communicable between humans. Early intervention by medical experts is crucial, as there is no specific treatment or cure, but timely care can significantly improve survival outcomes.
The progression of the infection can be swift and fatal. Dr. Sonja Bartolome from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas explained that early symptoms mimic those of the flu, with body aches and a general sense of malaise. She highlighted that distinguishing between hantavirus and the flu can be challenging in the initial stages of the illness.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe lung infection that can prove deadly. This virus drew significant attention in 1993 after an outbreak in the Four Corners region, where the borders of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
Dr. Michelle Harkins, a pulmonologist with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, recounted how a physician with the Indian Health Service first identified a troubling pattern of fatalities among healthy young individuals, who were experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest. This observation prompted further investigation by the CDC to identify commonalities among the affected patients.
Hantavirus cases in the U.S. have predominantly been reported in the western regions, particularly the southwest. From 1993 to 2022, there were 864 confirmed cases across the nation, with New Mexico topping the list at 122 cases, followed closely by Colorado with 119. In 2023, seven new cases were reported, followed by another seven in 2024, as per the New Mexico Department of Health. The state recorded 52 deaths from 1975 to 2023.
The CDC has offered its support by offering to test samples from Arakawaโs case to enhance understanding of the virus strain responsible and to conduct pathology examinations. CDC guidelines indicate that symptoms may arise between one to eight weeks post-exposure, initially presenting as fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease advances, symptoms can escalate to include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. Alarmingly, around a third of individuals manifesting respiratory symptoms succumb to the disease.
Despite exhaustive research efforts, Dr. Harkins pointed out that many aspects of the virus remain elusive, such as the reasons for its variable severity and the process of antibody development in patients. Her research team continues to monitor patients over extended periods in the hopes of discovering an effective treatment.
Dr. Harkins also emphasized the link to rodent exposure, suggesting that minimizing contact with rodents and their droppings is the most effective preventative measure. Protective gloves and bleach solutions are recommended for handling rodent droppings, and public health experts advise against sweeping or vacuuming, which may aerosolize the virus.