An environmental assessment conducted at the Santa Fe home of late actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, uncovered numerous rodent nests and droppings, linked to the hantavirus that led to Ms. Arakawa's death. The findings highlight potential health threats posed by rodent infestations.
Rodent Nests Linked to Hantavirus Found in Home of Late Actor Gene Hackman
Rodent Nests Linked to Hantavirus Found in Home of Late Actor Gene Hackman
Investigation reveals rodent presence in outbuildings of the property where Gene Hackman's wife died from hantavirus.
New Mexico authorities have reported findings of rodent nests and dead rodents in outbuildings at the Santa Fe residence of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his late wife, Betsy Arakawa. Documented by the New Mexico Department of Public Health, the presence of these pests was specified in an eight-page report originating from an environmental assessment carried out shortly after the couple’s deaths in February.
Betsy Arakawa, age 65, passed away due to a respiratory illness associated with hantavirus, a disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents. It is believed she succumbed to the illness a week before her husband, Gene Hackman, who was 95 and suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease. Their bodies were discovered on February 26, when emergency services were called to their home.
The environmental assessment took place on March 5, revealing several instances of rodent activity across the property. The reports noted findings of rodent feces, one live rodent, and a nesting area within the confines of three garages, alongside additional contamination in smaller structures and sheds. Although rodents were found in the outbuildings, officials noted that the main residence itself showed no signs of infestation.
Health officials indicate that Ms. Arakawa likely contracted hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), characterized by fatigue, fever, and severe respiratory symptoms, which can have a mortality rate of approximately 38% if respiratory complications arise. Since 1993, the CDC has documented a total of 864 cases of hantavirus across the US, predominantly in rural areas of the western states.
Gene Hackman ultimately passed due to severe heart disease, with his Alzheimer's disease possibly impairing his awareness of his wife's condition and the events leading to her sudden passing. The tragic circumstances surrounding the couple's deaths are serving as a grim reminder of the hidden dangers posed by rodent infestations and the potential consequences of illnesses such as hantavirus.
