What is Hantavirus that killed Gene Hackman's wife and is causing deaths in California

The rare hantavirus that killed actor Gene Hackman’s wife in February, is linked to three deaths in California. Mono County Public Health has confirmed the third death in the Town of Mammoth Lakes, from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus causes serious and often fatal disease in people. Humans get the virus from contact with rodents like rats and mice.

“A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming. We don’t have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity,” Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer said in a statement on Apr. 3. The officials, however, found some mice in the workplace of the third case.

In February, actor Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The actor too was found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 26, but he tested negative for the virus. The autopsy said his death was due to “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”

What is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses can infect and cause serious disease in people. Individuals get the virus when they come in contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. Rodent bite or scratch can also spread disease, however, it is rare.

Hantaviruses can cause two syndrome according to the CDC. The one’s found in the Western Hemisphere including those found in the US cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse.

Another syndrome is Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It is a group of clinically similar illnesses caused by hantaviruses found mostly in Europe and Asia. However, Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus that causes HFRS, is found worldwide, including in the United States.

Symptoms of HPS

HPS is a severe and potentially deadly disease, which can affect the lungs. The symptoms appear in 1 or 8 weeks after exposure. The early symptoms include:

• fatigue
  
• fever
  
• muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders
  

About half of all HPS patients also experience:

• headaches
  
• dizziness
  
• chills
  
• abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
  

Symptoms of HFRS

HFRS too is severe and is a potentially deadly disease that affects the kidneys. The symptoms appear within a week or two after exposure. In rare cases, it may take up to 8 weeks for the symptoms to appear. The initial symptoms include:

• intense headaches
  
• back and abdominal pain
  
• fever/chills
  
• nausea
  
• blurred vision
  

People may have flushing of the face, inflammation or redness of the eyes, or a rash. Later symptoms can include:

• low blood pressure
  
• lack of blood flow (acute shock)
  
• internal bleeding (vascular leakage)
  
• acute kidney failure, which can cause severe fluid overload
  

Health officials stress that prevention is key to the disease. Controlling the rodent activities is important. "We believe that deer mouse numbers are high this year in Mammoth (and probably elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra). An increase in indoor mice elevates the risk of Hantavirus exposure. Therefore, it is crucial to take precautions and follow the prevention steps," the officials said.