Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home in February, with Arakawa dying from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome days before her husband passed
Over two months have passed since the tragic discovery of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s lifeless bodies in their New Mexico residence.
The 95-year-old Hollywood icon and his 65-year-old classical pianist wife were found deceased on February 26, after security personnel spotted their bodies through a window and alerted the authorities.
In the days following the discovery, it was revealed that Arakawa had succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around February 12. Later, experts determined that the Superman star had passed away a few days later, on February 18, due to complications from severe heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
A week later, the New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted a thorough health assessment of the property.
According to TMZ, the department’s findings revealed that the Hackman property was a “breeding ground” for the hantavirus, with dead rodents and their nests discovered in “eight detached outbuildings”. The virus, which is typically spread through rodent urine and droppings, can be contracted by individuals when cleaning areas such as basements or attics.
Rodent droppings were found in three garages, two casitas, and three sheds on the estate. Furthermore, a live rodent, a dead rodent, and a rodent nest were discovered in three additional garages, reports the Express.
Additionally, two vehicles on the property showed evidence of rodent infestation, and traps were found in the buildings, suggesting that the couple had been struggling with this issue for some time. Health experts performed an assessment to check if first responders or anyone else at the scene were safe from any virus.
The primary residence was concluded to be “low-risk” and showed no signs of rodent infestation.
The hantavirus, initially uncovered in South Korea in 1978 from a field mouse, is quite uncommon in the US, with fewer than 50 cases typically reported annually.
In comparison, the US sees about 2,000 cases of West Nile Virus each year. However, following Arakawa’s demise, three more individuals succumbed to the virus in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Hackman bowed out of acting with his last film being 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport, and since then, the star has become quite the recluse, rarely being seen in public.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
