VIRUS AGONY Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy could have caught rare rat virus from cleaning couple’s garage before they died 7-days apart
GENE Hackman’s tragic wife Betsy Arakawa could have caught the ultra-rare and fatal rat virus from cleaning the garage of their mansion, reports claim.
The mystery surrounding the couple’s death finally came to an end after it was revealed that Hackman, 95, died from a heart condition around a week after his wife, 65, was killed by a rare rodent disease.
The star’s wife was tragically found in the bathroom with scattered pills from an open prescription bottle on the counter.
New Mexico medical investigators revealed in a press conference on Friday that Arakawa was infected with hantavirus.
This caused a deadly build-up of fluid in her lungs, given the official medical term of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS.
HPS spreads through the inhalation of airborne particles containing the virus which is often found in the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents.
While there was no rodent activity in the main house, rodent droppings were discovered in the couple’s garage and outhouses, according to the Daily Mail.
And, according to experts, Arakawa could have picked up the deadly HPD from cleaning those specific areas of the property where the rodents had been.
Symptoms of hantavirus infection include fever, muscle aches and coughing, which can progress to shortness of breath and heart or lung failure.
It is not transferable between humans, and Hackman had not contracted the illness.
The disease is very rare, with just 864 cases documented in the US between 1993 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile actor Hackman died from a heart condition around a week after his wife’s tragic passing.
In very rare cases, the disease can be passed to humans and cause varied disease syndromes.
These include hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
The CDC said: “Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people via aerosolised virus that is shed in urine, feces, and saliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected host.”
Dr Sumaiya Shaikh, a Swedish scientist, tweeted: “The #Hantavirus first emerged in 1950s in the American-Korean war in Korea (Hantan river).
“It spreads from rat/mice if humans ingest their body fluids.
“Human-human transmission is rare. Please do not panic, unless you plan to eat rats.”
While hantavirus is rare, it carries a 38 per cent death rate according to the CDC.
As he lived with severe Alzheimers, medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said it was likely Hackman had not realised his wife Arakawa was dead.
He was found in the kitchen with no food in his stomach, but he showed no signs of dehydration.
The last signal from the actor’s pacemaker was from February 18.
Dr Jarrell said: “It’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.”
She went on: “Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
“He was in a very poor state of health.
“He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.”
She added: “There is no reliable method to determine time or date of death, but it is probably likely Mr Hackman died around February 18.
“And based on circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude Ms Hackman died first, with February 11 the last time she was known to be alive.”
The triple-death tragedy in the Hackman home was for shrouded in mystery for over a week.
Foul play was considered unlikely from early on, and a number of theories about the deaths swirled.
The bodies of Hackman and his wife were found in different rooms.
The two-time Oscar winner was discovered fully clothed in a wet room off the kitchen with his cane laid out next to him, according to a search warrant.
And Betsy was found on the bathroom floor, near a space heater.
Her body was said to have been partially “mummified”.
One of the couple’s three German Shepherd dogs was also found dead in the bathroom’s closet.
Adan Mendoza, Santa Fe County Sheriff, outlined Arakawa’s final movements.
On February 9, she picked up the dog that was later found dead from the vets after a procedure.
Then, on the afternoon of February 11, Arakawa went shopping in a farmer’s market, CVS and a pet food store.
She returned to their gated community at around 5:15pm – and had no more known contact with anyone other than Hackman, the sheriff said.
All of her emails were left unread after that date.
Dr. Erin Phipps, a veterinarian, said it’s possible to dog died from a lack of food and water.
Dogs cannot get sick from hantavirus, she noted.
An early theory was that carbon monoxide poisoning had killed the couple and their canine, but that was debunked last week by negative chemical tests.
Authorities said last week that the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation“.
But, he was known for starring in Superman movies, and hit films like Mississippi Burning and Unforgiven.
He played the supervillain Lex Luthor in Superman, Superman II, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
Hackman also starred in the hit movies Runaway Jury, The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven, and The Conversation.
In 1972, he scooped the Best Actor gong for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.
He appeared in the movie’s sequel in 1975.
In 1993, Hackman won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the western flick Unforgiven.
Hackman played Little Bill Daggett in the film that also starred Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Anna Thomson.
Unforgiven scooped four Oscars, including Best Picture.
Hackman appeared in four westerns during the 1990s. The others were: Geronimo: An American Legend, Wyatt Earp, and The Quick and the Dead.
But, he also appeared on stage. Hackman’s last Broadway appearance came in 1992 when he played Roberto Miranda in the play Death and the Maiden.
When he quit acting, it was feared that the decision was linked to stress.
He admitted he struggled to balance family life with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
Hackman wasn’t just a film star; he starred in TV series such as Brenner and The F.B.I.
But after his final role, he left the bright lights of Hollywood and moved to New Mexico.
He was rarely spotted and liked to enjoy Wendy’s drive-thru meals.
In his later years, he suffered from minor health problems.
In 2012, Hackman was struck by a car when riding his bike.
He was rushed to a Miami hospital with serious injuries.
“Gene’s fine,” his agent Susan Madore said at the time as she downplayed any fears.
“Just a few bumps and bruises.”
The incident happened eight years after his final movie role.
And, it was just weeks before he turned 82.
