Betsy Arakawa – the classic pianist married to Gene Hackman – died last month of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious rodent -related disease, New Mexico officials announced on Friday.
Patients with Hantavirus can develop flu -like symptoms that progress rapidly in difficulty breathing. The condition can damage the lung tissue and cause fluid construction in the lungs, leading to serious lung and heart problems.
Arakawa last fled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the residence she shared with Hackman on February 11, which was also when she sent communications for the last time, according to Santa Fe Mendoza’s sheriff.
She is likely to die from the virus that day, said the chief medical chief in New Mexico Heather Jarrell at Friday’s press conference.
Hackman, who had Alzheimer’s disease in the late phase, probably died about a week after his wife from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.
The troops of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered by maintenance and security workers in their Santa Fe home on February 26th.
Here you have everything you need to know about the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
How do you get
People get hantaviruses through contact with infected rodents, either by absorbing virus particles from rodent spots or nesting materials, eating mouse -contaminated food, urine or soft spots either being bitten or scratched by a mouse that holds the virus.
In the US, most infections occur west of the Mississippi River.
Deer rats are the most common culprit in North America, but there are others. Rice rats and cotton mice are carriers in southeastern mice and with white legs in the northeast.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start one week to eight weeks after exposure. Respiratory problems can start four to 10 days after the initial symptoms.
- fever
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Vomiting and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- panting
- cough
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