Betsy Arakawa, wife of Gene Hackman, officials in New Mexico announced Friday.
Hantavirus, which exists globally, is transmitted through contact with rodents or their waste products like urine or feces. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this virus can lead to a serious and potentially fatal lung condition known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The CDC started monitoring the virus following an outbreak in 1993 in the Four Corners area—where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge.
Since then, the overwhelming majority of U.S. cases have occurred in western states, especially the southwestern region. From 1993 to 2022, 864 cases were reported in the U.S. New Mexico had the highest number during that period, with 122 cases, followed by Colorado with 119.
Symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and may initially include fatigue, fever, and muscle pain, says the CDC. As the illness progresses, symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs. The CDC reports that approximately one-third of individuals who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease may die.
The most effective way to prevent infection is to limit exposure to rodents and their excrement.