Gene Hackman Tragedy Tied to Deadly Virus Now Killing More in California.
The rare hantavirus --that few had heard of before it killed Gene Hackman's wife - has killed more people. This time in California.
In Mammoth Lakes, three individuals have tragically lost their lives to hantavirus, the same virus that claimed the life of actor Gene's wife, Betsy Arakawa. This week, the Mono County Health and Human Services Public Health Division reported the third death linked to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the town, located approximately 330 miles east of San Francisco. Dr. Tom Boo, the Mono County Public Health Officer, expressed that the recent case of hantavirus is both "tragic and alarming," and he is puzzled about how the deceased contracted the virus.
GENE HACKMAN American Actor At the 1993 Academy Awards
As a reminder, Gene and Betsy were discovered deceased in their New Mexico residence on February 26, with Betsy's death attributed to HPS. HPS is a condition caused by hantavirus.
"HPS - Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to more severe disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems."
— Mayo Clinic Staff
Source: Mayo Clinic - Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Hantavirus is transmitted to humans through the droppings and urine of rodents, typically when individuals clean areas like attics or basements, and it has a mortality rate of one in three. Dr. Allison Bray, from San Diego County's Vector Control Program, advised that;
"Hantavirus is carried and transmitted by wild mice, especially the deer mouse. It's transmitted to people when we inhale the virus that's in the urine or feces of wild mice."
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