The rare virus that killed Gene Hackman’s wife in New Mexico is linked to three more deaths in California.
Health officials say three people in the town of Mammoth Lakes have succumbed to respiratory infections caused by hantavirus, which killed the actor’s wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Arakawa, 65, and Gene Hackman, 95, were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 26. They had been dead for weeks.
Arakawa is believed to have passed away first from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Days later, her husband died from heart disease, dehydration and starvation.
Hackman suffered from advanced dementia and was totally dependent on Arakawa.
Officials theorized that Arakawa contracted hantavirus from deer mice droppings while cleaning out her garage.
Health officials announced this week that three people have died from the hantavirus in Mono County since February.
The victims lived in the town of Mammoth Lakes, about 330 miles east of San Francisco, TMZ reported.
Of the three victims, health officials said one person had numerous mice in their home.
Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer told TMZ the latest case involving hantavirus was “tragic and alarming”, and he doesn’t understand where the deceased individual would have contracted it.
“The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year,” said Dr. Boo.
Hantavirus spreads to humans from rat/mouse droppings and urine. It is deadly if it gets into the lungs. There is no cure for a virus.
