• Public health authorities have announced the deaths of three individuals in a remote Californian town due to hantavirus infections this year.

  • Betsy Arakawa, the spouse of the late actor Gene Hackman, succumbed to the virus in February. Hackman passed away a week later from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s.

  • Hantavirus is transmitted through the droppings, urine, and saliva of infected rodents, primarily mice, and does not pass from one person to another.

On April 3, state health officials confirmed that a rare virus, which recently claimed the life of Gene Hackman’s wife, has caused three fatalities in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Gene Hackman, aged 95, died from heart disease, exacerbated by Alzheimer’s, roughly a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, aged 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, as reported by the Associated Press. The couple’s partially mummified remains were discovered in their Santa Fe, NM home on February 26.

Tom Boo, MD, a public health officer in Mono County, described the situation in the Eastern Sierra town as both “tragic and alarming”.

Hantavirus primarily affects the respiratory system and is contracted through contact with rodent excretions like droppings and saliva, particularly from deer mice. It is not contagious between humans.

Michelle Harkins, MD, a pulmonologist at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, noted that hantavirus infections tend to occur more frequently in rural environments.

“People are most often exposed while cleaning out spaces like old sheds or areas heavily infested with mice,” Harkins explained to Healthline. She also mentioned that inhaling virus particles stirred into the air during sweeping could lead to infection, and she has treated cases contracted in forested or construction areas.

According to Boo, deer mice populations, which are common hosts of the virus in California’s Eastern Sierra region, are suspected to be unusually high this year, potentially increasing infection risks.

David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective regarding the risk of hantavirus.

“In the U.S., where general sanitation is high and fewer people reside in rural rodent-infested areas, the likelihood of contracting hantavirus is very low, though not impossible,” he told Healthline.

He also highlighted that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been fewer than 1,000 hantavirus cases reported in the U.S. over the past 30 years. In comparison, annually, over 100,000 deaths occur from preventable viral infections such as COVID, influenza, and RSV,” he stated.

Cutler also stressed that it’s crucial for healthcare providers, especially those in rural settings where hantavirus is found, to be vigilant of the virus and its symptoms.

Understanding Hantavirus Symptoms

While hantavirus cases are uncommon, they can result in severe and fatal outcomes. The CDC reports that about one-third of those with respiratory symptoms from the virus end up dying.

According to Harkins, when the virus impacts both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the mortality rate can reach about 50%. Symptoms in this phase may include low blood pressure and fluid accumulation in the lungs.

“Not all affected individuals experience this severe cardiopulmonary phase, but a significant number do. The onset can be swift, leading to death within hours to a day if not promptly treated and monitored,” she stated.

Initial symptoms of hantavirus may appear one to eight weeks following exposure, according to the CDC, and include:

  • fatigue

  • fever

  • muscle aches

Approximately half of those infected may also suffer from:

  • headaches

  • dizziness

  • chills

  • abdominal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Subsequent respiratory symptoms might include:

  • coughing

  • difficulty breathing

  • chest tightness

Earlier Than Usual Occurrence of Hantavirus

The CDC notes that most hantavirus cases in the U.S. occur west of the Mississippi River, with the highest numbers reported in New Mexico, followed by Colorado, Arizona, and California.

In the Eastern High Sierras, hantavirus cases typically emerge later in the spring and during the summer. “The occurrence of three cases in a short period, particularly this early in the year, is concerning,” Boo noted.

This year’s early cases may be linked to climate change effects, he suggested.

“There’s a known cycle where mild winters and summer rainfall increase vegetation and subsequently the mouse population. When more mice are around, there’s a higher chance for them to contract and spread the virus among themselves,” explained Harkins.

Interestingly, none of the individuals who passed away in Mammoth Lakes had been involved in high-risk activities, such as cleaning areas heavily laden with mouse droppings in poorly ventilated spaces, according to Boo.

“It appears they were exposed during routine daily activities, either at home or at work,” he added.

Harkins shared several preventive measures to minimize the risk of hantavirus exposure:

  • Ensure your home is rodent-proof by keeping doors and windows closed, sealing any gaps in walls, and keeping wood piles away from your home.

  • Aerate enclosed spaces for at least 30 minutes before entering if you suspect rodent presence.

  • Avoid vacuuming or sweeping up rodent droppings, urine, or nests as this can aerosolize the virus.

  • Use a disinfectant or a 10% bleach solution to spray on droppings and affected areas, letting it sit for five minutes before cleaning.

  • Always wear gloves and an N-95 (or higher) mask while cleaning areas that might be contaminated.

“If you end up cleaning a shed or handling decorations from storage that might have mouse nests, monitor yourself for symptoms afterward and seek medical attention if symptoms develop,” Harkin advised. “Remember, symptoms may not appear until one to eight weeks after exposure.”