Gene Hackman dies of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: what to know

Betsy ArakawaThe wife of the deceased Genes HackmanHe died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, officials of New Mexico said Friday.

The confirmation of his cause of death ends weeks of mystery after Arakawa, 65, and Hackman, 95, were found dead Within his home in Santa Fe on February 26, without obvious signs of how they died, according to the Sheriff’s office in Santa Fe County.

The State Chief Medical Researcher He said Friday That Hackman, a winning actor of the Academy Award, died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with “Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”

The authorities said Hackman died around February 18 and that Arakawa died around February 11. Hackman, known for sharing three pet dogs with Arakawa, was probably at home with his deceased wife for a week before he died, authorities said.

While the cause of Hackman’s death, a condition in which high blood pressure damages blood vessels, which lead to heart problems, is more common, the syndrome that caused Arakawa’s death is rare.

There have been less than 900 cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the United States in the last 30 years, according The US disease control centers.

What is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a condition that “causes influenza -like symptoms that can progress to a more serious disease where people have breathing problems,” according to CDC. It is a severe and potentially deadly infection that mainly affects the lungs and needs rapid medical attention.

Hantavirus are a family of viruses that can cause serious diseases and death, and some hantavirus cause pulmonary syndrome of hantavirus.

According to CDC, most of the Hantavirus found in the US causes Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, according to CDC.

What are the symptoms of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

At the beginning, the pulmonary syndrome of the Hantavirus causes flu -like symptoms that can then progress to a more serious disease, causing breathing difficulties, according to CDC.

Early symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, fatigue. Approximately 10 days after the disease, patients can develop cough and lack of breathing with some potentially experiencing fluids that accumulate in the lungs.

How is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

CDC recommends that patients suspected of having pulmonary syndrome of hantavirus were treated immediately, even before a diagnosis is made, since Hantavirus symptoms may resemble many other viral infections, such as influenza.

Hantavirus is diagnosed with a blood test.

Medical care for Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome may include supplementary oxygen, antibiotic therapy, liquids and mechanical or non -invasive ventilation, according to CDC.

The syndrome is fatal in almost four out of 10 infected people, according to CDC.

How does Hantavirus extend?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome extends by rodents infected through their urine, feces and saliva, according to CDC.

In the US, the most common hantavirus pulmonary syndrome extends through the deer mouse.

People can become infected if they breathe in the air contaminated with Hantavirus when cleaned after rodents; touch contaminated objects and then touch your face; They are bitten or scratched by an infected rodent; or eat foods that have been contaminated with Hantavirus, according to CDC.

It is not known that dogs and cats are infected by Hantavirus, according to CDC, but can extend it to humans if they bring infected rodents to internal people or homes.

How common is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

There have only been around 860 cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome since the CDC began to track the syndrome in 1993 in the United States.

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The state of New Mexico reported Seven cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in each of the last two years.

Between 1975 and 2023, the State registered a total of 129 cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome with 52 deaths, according The New Mexico Health Department.