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(Nexstar) – Medical inspectors confirmed Friday that Betsie Arakawa, the wife of concert pianist and Jean Hackman, died of an illness caused by the Hantavirus.
Arakawa and Hackman were found dead on February 26 at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico, along with one of their dogs.
Authorities said Arakawa was found on the bathroom floor of the residence and there are tablets for unrelated thyroid problems scattered around the countertop.
Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa, who had been dead for a while, was found in various rooms, investigators say
Dr. Heather Jarrell said 65-year-old Arakawa died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, but 95-year-old Hackman did not test positive for the illness.
Jarrell said Hackman’s death was linked to severe heart disease. The autopsy also found evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses, rare, but fatal.
The virus is spreading primarily to humans by rodents, but not from one person to another. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), humans can contract the virus from the urine, feces and saliva of mice or rats. In rare cases, it can be spread by bite or scratch.
In the US, the CDC says hantavirus is usually spread by deer mice.
Gene Hackman announced the cause of Betsy Arakawa’s death
In the Western Hemisphere, hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs. Symptoms usually surface one to eight weeks with infected rodents and can include fatigue, fever, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems.
After 4-10 days, slow symptoms such as coughing, lung-filled lungs and shortness of breath begin.
The CDC estimates that 38% of people experiencing respiratory symptoms can die from the disease.
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