Rare virus behind death of Gene Hackman’s wife kills 3 in California

Public health officials in California announced three people have died from hantavirus, the virus linked to the February death of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa.

The deaths occurred in the California town of Mammoth Lakes where 27 cases have been reported since 1993, according to Mono County public health officials. Though hantavirus cases tend to appear later in the spring and summer, all three deceased individuals got sick in February, officials said.

“The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year,” Tom Boo, a county public health officer, said in a statement.

Hantaviruses can cause serious illnesses affecting the lungs and death. Rodents pass the virus through their droppings, urine and saliva. The infections do not spread from person to person.

Symptoms of a potentially fatal disease caused by the virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, can appear one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent, the CDC said.

An autopsy on Arakawa, 65, showed evidence of hantavirus infection and findings “consistent with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome,” Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator said last month.

A mask, a cane and a frantic dog: Inside the final hours of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

The disease is more prevalent in Southwest states such as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deer mice are found widely in the Eastern Sierra region and an increase in their population elevates the risk of exposure, Boo said.

But health officials said none of the people who died in Mammoth Lakes did things that typically result in exposure, like cleaning out poorly ventilated areas with mouse droppings.

Investigators found one person had mice in their homes and one vacuumed an area where mouse droppings were found, which could spread the virus through the air. While some evidence of mice was found in all of their workplaces, there were no major infestations.

Boo urged residents to remain vigilant.

“Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk,” he wrote. “We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virus linked to death of Gene Hackman’s wife kills 3 in California