Actor's wife died of rare disease linked to droppings of infected rodents

American pianist Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease often caused by contact with droppings from infected rodents.

- Hank Sanders and Michael Levenson

SANTA FE, New Mexico — American pianist Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease often caused by contact with droppings from infected rodents.

Hantavirus does not spread among people in the cases found in the US. It can be transmitted through rodent saliva, but it is most commonly transmitted by breathing in particles of dried deer mouse droppings or urine.

At first, it causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, body aches and headaches. But as the disease progresses, respiratory symptoms develop and patients can experience shortness of breath and then lung or heart failure.

WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?

Hantavirus refers to a family of viruses that are carried by rodents. It is often transmitted to humans through inhalation of particles from dried mouse droppings. In North America, Sin Nombre virus is the most common form of this virus, said Dr Sabra Klein, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.