There's a rare, deadly virus hiding in plain sight

Here's what we know about the hantavirus

- CLINICAL MATTERS DR. EDSEL MAURICE T. SALVANA

When legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home under mysterious circumstances, there were many theories as to what had happened. One of the last things people expected was that a little-known virus named hantavirus was involved in their demise. Apparently, Arakawa had contracted the virus and had quickly deteriorated and suddenly died in their home. Hackman, who had Alzheimer's disease and heart problems, was unable to care for himself or get help and eventually died from his heart condition. What is hantavirus, and is it something that we should be concerned about?

was diagnosed with and died of, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). While hantavirus-like syndromes have been described in historical texts as far back as the fifth century BCE, it was only in modern times that the causative agent was finally identified. HFRS was first suspected in a large outbreak among soldiers near the Hantan River during the Korean War. The virus was finally isolated in 1978 and named Hantaan virus after the river. Since then, other related virus species have been discovered to cause HFRS or HPS, and this group of viruses is now collectively known as hantaviruses.