The recent news of Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbing to a pulmonary syndrome has cast a spotlight on a relatively unknown but potentially deadly virus.

The couple's untimely deaths in their New Mexico home have left many in our community wondering about the risks of this disease and how to protect themselves and their loved ones.

This silent killer lurks in homes across the country—spread by rodents and often mistaken for the flu. Could your home be at risk?



The context of the tragedy
At around 1:43 pm on February 26, a longtime maintenance worker arrived at the Hackman home and noticed the front door was slightly open.

Looking through a window, he saw Arakawa lying on the floor. He immediately informed another maintenance worker from the subdivision, who then called 911.

Authorities reported that two other dogs on the property were found in good health.

When first responders arrived, they noted how well-kept the home was. “It was very neat, organized with no clutter,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Juan Rios.



The two surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, were taken to a local pet day-care facility, while Hackman’s and Arakawa’s bodies were transported to the state Office of the Medical Investigator at the University of New Mexico for autopsies.

Hackman, 95, was located in the mudroom, while Arakawa, 64, was found in the bathroom with prescription pills scattered on the counter. However, County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that there were no indications of foul play or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Authorities analyzed Hackman’s pacemaker activity and concluded that he and his wife had likely passed away a week before their bodies were discovered.

What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe respiratory disease caused by infection with hantaviruses, which are carried by rodents such as mice and rats. The infection attacks the lungs and symptoms start to show from one to eight weeks after contact with an infected animal.

First identified in 1993, hantavirus initially spread from the Southwest to other parts of the US Humans typically contract the virus by inhaling aerosolized urine, feces, or saliva from rodents—with the tiny deer mouse being the primary carrier in New Mexico.

Cases remain rare. As of 2024, New Mexico had recorded only 136 infections over the past five decades, with just five occurring in Santa Fe County, according to state public health veterinarian Erin Phipps.



She also noted that dogs cannot contract the disease, and the strain found in the US does not spread from person to person.

Humans can contract the virus through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, especially when these are stirred up into the air, making the virus airborne and inhalable.

The symptoms of HPS can be deceptive, often starting with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, which can easily be mistaken for the flu.

As the disease progresses, it can lead to coughing and shortness of breath as the lungs fill with fluid. The onset of symptoms typically occurs one to eight weeks after exposure to the virus, and without prompt medical attention, HPS can be fatal.



Health officials report that hantavirus has a shockingly high mortality rate, ranging from 35% to 50%.

“Unfortunately, it could progress to cardiogenic shock over a period of a few hours,” he explained. “Even in a hospital, most deaths occur within the first day.”

The CDC noted that diagnosing an infection within 72 hours of exposure is challenging, requiring repeat testing once symptoms begin to appear. Early signs of the illness can be mistaken for influenza.



Arakawa’s last sighting: The virus was already attacking
One of the last public sightings of Betsy Arakawa was at a CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe, where security cameras captured her browsing the aisles with a mask covering her face—likely due to the virus affecting her lungs.

Within hours, she had passed away.

Footage from February 11, the last day she is believed to have been alive, showed Arakawa running errands. The longtime wife and primary caregiver of actor Gene Hackman, she had sent an email, visited the pharmacy, and done some grocery shopping.

What stood out, however, was what she didn’t do. Arakawa never made it to Gruda Veterinary Hospital in southwest Santa Fe to pick up the prescription dog food and medication she had ordered for one of her three dogs, Zinna, Bear, and Nikita.

“She was devoted to those dogs,” said Robert Gruda, the hospital’s owner, in an interview with USA TODAY. “She was consistent, predictable. We knew something was wrong when she didn’t pick up the food on time.”



What caused the couple’s deaths?
At 2 pm on Friday, standing outside the sheriff’s office in Santa Fe, Dr. Heather Jarrell addressed the media. For over a week, reporters from around the world had converged on New Mexico, all seeking the same answer: How did Hackman and Arakawa die?

According to Jarrell, Arakawa likely passed away a full week before Hackman due to complications from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman tested negative for the virus, and both were also negative for COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory infections.

Hackman appeared to have died from heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s serving as “a significant contributory factor,” Jarrell explained. The post-mortem examination revealed “multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes to the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”

“He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death,” Jarrell stated during today’s press conference. Hackman’s pacemaker recorded atrial fibrillation on February 18, after which it detected no further heart activity.



Jarrell also noted that no food was found in Hackman’s stomach, suggesting he “had not eaten recently” before his death. However, there was no indication of dehydration. So, both deaths were classified as “natural causes.”

“As people advance in the sequence of their Alzheimer’s disease, they become more and more reliant on a caregiver,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University, told CNN’s Sara Sidner on Friday night.

It remains unclear whether Arakawa was Hackman’s primary caregiver or if he had additional support.

However, if she was his main caregiver, “she would be responsible for giving Mr. Hackman his medications, for cleaning him, for helping him to the bathroom and for feeding him,” Reiner explained. With her sudden passing, “one can see how, sadly, that could lead to his death,” he added.



Arakawa’s cause of death, however, was less obvious. In less-experienced medical examiners’ offices, it might have gone undetected. But Jarrell and her team identified microscopic signs of disease in her lungs. She had tested negative for COVID-19 and influenza but positive for hantavirus. Cause of death: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The virus had overwhelmed her lungs, leading to rapid organ failure.

As Jarrell continued her investigation, she received a call from one of Hackman’s doctors. His pacemaker had recorded activity as recently as February 17.

Further analysis revealed that his heart showed signs of atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat—on February 18. That, Jarrell concluded, was likely when he passed away.



Sheriff Adan Mendoza said authorities are still awaiting data from two cell phones collected at the home, as well as a necropsy report for Zinna, the deceased dog. However, the medical examiner’s findings had already answered many of their questions.

For seven days after Arakawa’s death, Hackman remained in the house. There were no cameras inside to track his movements.

During that time, he never made a phone call or sought help. He hadn’t eaten, yet somehow, he managed to stay hydrated.

With a failing heart and a mind clouded by Alzheimer’s, he was alone, unaware that his wife and primary caregiver had died just steps away on the bathroom floor.



Authorities believe Hackman likely never knew she was gone.

How to protect yourself from hantavirus
Prevention is key when it comes to hantavirus. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the risk of infection:

1. Seal up: Rodents can squeeze through tiny spaces, so seal up holes and gaps in your home, especially where pipes and wires enter.

2. Trap rodents: Use traps in and around your home to reduce the rodent population.

Also read: The untold truth: Unraveling the mystery surrounding Gene Hackman’s final days


3. Clean up: Safely clean up any rodent droppings or nests by wearing gloves and a mask, and disinfect the area with a bleach solution.

4. Store food securely: Keep food in rodent-proof containers to avoid attracting these pests.

5. Be cautious in rodent-infested areas: If you need to clean a shed or other area where rodents have been, air out the space for at least 30 minutes before entering.

While hantavirus infections are rare, the consequences can be severe. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, making prevention and early detection crucial.

If you experience symptoms such as fever, deep muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath, especially after potential exposure to rodent droppings, seek medical attention immediately.

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Hackman and Arakawa’s love story
Hackman and Arakawa “met while she was working part-time in a California fitness center,” as noted in a 1989 New York Times Magazine article. At the time, Hackman, 59, had already spent three decades as a successful Hollywood actor, while Arakawa was a classically trained pianist who developed her passion for music growing up in Hawaii.

“They share a two-bedroom adobe house on a wide brown plain outside Santa Fe,” the article described. “He paints and sketches, solitary hobbies, and tools around in one of his two pickup trucks.”

The couple married in 1991 and enjoyed simple pleasures together. In a 2020 interview with Empire, Hackman shared that they liked watching “DVDs that my wife rents; we like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.”

Barbara Lenihan told The New York Times that Arakawa also played a key role in her husband’s writing, transcribing his handwritten manuscripts onto the computer, assisting with edits, and offering insights into his characters.



Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple became more reclusive due to health concerns, and friends saw less of them. Arakawa took precautions like masking to protect Hackman from illness. Until a year ago, he remained active, riding his bicycle regularly, and Arakawa encouraged him to stay fit through yoga and other home exercises via Zoom.

“Betsy was a wonderful wife. They were very close, and she was a good cook and really, really took good care of him,” Lenihan said. “They ate very well. He had had a triple bypass, maybe around (age) 60, and he’d been in really good health since then, and I’m sure she was one of those factors.”



Daniel and Barbara Lenihan described the couple as “very easy people to get along with.”

When the Lenihans visited their home, Hackman often requested that Arakawa play classical music on the piano. She, in turn, fully supported his endeavors. The couple loved to travel and were well-liked in their community.

They also shared a deep love for animals. While filming The Replacements in Baltimore in 1999, Hackman encountered two stray dogs on set and took them to a shelter, where one was named after him. Later, he and Arakawa adopted the dog named Gene.

Reflecting on their friendship, Daniel Lenihan remembered Hackman as an “interesting, funny, very intelligent man,” while Barbara Lenihan described Arakawa as “clever and witty and fun.”



In honor of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, let's raise awareness about hantavirus and take proactive steps to protect our health. Share this information with your neighbors, friends, and family.


We invite you to join the conversation below. Have you ever dealt with a rodent infestation? Do you have additional tips for keeping our homes safe from hantavirus? Share your insights in the comments below!