What is hantavirus? The rodent-borne illness everyone's talking about

The rare disease commonly confused with the flu

The cause of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa’s deaths have been revealed, and you’ve likely never heard of the disease the 65-year-old pianist was suffering from.

Theories have been swirling around social media and online after the bodies of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his classical pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa were found in their New Mexico home in February. 

Despite many assuming foul play, officials have announced that the 95-year-old actor died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s disease on an empty stomach after his 65-year-old wife died of a rare rodent-borne disease. 

Despite many early reports focusing on an open bottle of prescription pills found near Arakawa’s body, Chief medical investigator Heather Jarrell said they were thyroid medication and the cause of her death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a potentially fatal lung infection caused by the hantavirus family of viruses. It can also cause damage to the heart. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 864 reported cases of HPS in the US between 1993 and 2022. 

Hantaviruses are spread through rodent saliva, faeces or urine, often as a result of breathing in particles. Not all rodents carry the disease, but deer mice are commonly infected. 

Most people who are infected are exposed near their homes, workplaces, sheds, or poorly ventilated areas. 

Hantaviruses are spread through rodent saliva, faeces or urine, often as a result of breathing in particles.

Hantavirus symptoms

Sonja Bartolome from the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said, “Early in the illness, you really may not be able to tell the difference between hantavirus and having the flu”.

Symptoms typically appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and include fever, chills, body aches and headaches, which can eventuate to shortness of breath and lung or heart failure. 

There is no specific treatment or cure, and the infection progresses rapidly. 

“Early in the illness, you really may not be able to tell the difference between hantavirus and having the flu”. Image: Pexels

Antivirals, oxygen therapy and fluid replacement can help manage symptoms, and early intervention can increase patients’ chances of survival. Though recovery can take several weeks if patients do survive later-stage symptoms. 

"The mortality rate of [hantavirus] is about 38-50 per cent," according to Chief medical investigator Heather Jarrell.

It isn’t known how quickly Arakawa died after being infected.

Antivirals, oxygen therapy and fluid replacement can help manage symptoms, and early intervention can increase patients’ chances of survival. Image: iStock

Prevention measures are encouraged for people living in areas with regular cases of the disease. Health experts advise residents of areas where infected rodents are often sighted to clean up any droppings they find with a wet paper towel instead of a vacuum or broom, as these can stir up particles that can potentially be breathed in. 

The area needs to be properly cleaned once the faeces are cleared. Spraying bleach or disinfectant while wearing gloves and a mask is advised. 

Is hantavirus in Australia?

Hantavirus hasn’t been found in Australian rodents, and there haven’t been any documented cases here.  

The disease rarely spreads between people, and this has only ever been documented in the hantavirus strain found in Argentina and Chile. 

Originally published as What is hantavirus? The rodent-borne illness everyone's talking about