Following the heartbreaking deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, the same virus that resulted in her death has now killed three other people in the California city of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County.
The partially mummified bodies of the Hollywood legend and his wife were discovered on February 26 by maintenance and security staff after they failed to respond to outreach attempts.
One of their pet dogs was also found dead at their Santa Fe property.
New Mexico’s chief medical examiner, Heather Jarrell, said the last activity on Hackman's pacemaker was registered on February 17, with no food in his stomach and no signs of dehydration, suggesting he likely died the following day.
While Betsy was initially believed to have died on February 11, authorities now believe she was alive on February 12, when she called a medical concierge service — adjusting the timeline of her death.
Authorities later confirmed that Betsy, 61, died after contracting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) — a rare but deadly illness caused by contact with infected rodent waste.
While Betsy’s cause of death was ruled as HPS, Hackman, 94, died a few days later from heart disease, with Alzheimer’s disease and high blood pressure contributing to his passing.
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Now, the same virus that killed Arakawa has been linked to a troubling trend of similar fatalities in the rural California town of Mammoth Lakes, CBS News reports.
At the time of Arakawa’s death, three other people had also died from hantavirus in the town of Mammoth Lakes, California — located about 330 miles east of San Francisco in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
These cases have shaken the community of just over 7,000, known for its scenic trails and ski resorts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus is spread through contact with infected deer mice, particularly via their urine, droppings, or saliva. The virus can also be transmitted through bites, scratches, or airborne particles stirred up during cleaning.
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On April 3, Mono County Health and Human Services confirmed a third recent fatality in Mammoth Lakes tied to HPS. All three of the deceased reportedly had some degree of rodent exposure, but the exact source of infection remains unclear in most cases.
Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County’s Public Health Officer, described the situation as “tragic and alarming,” especially given that none of the deceased were engaged in high-risk activities like cleaning rodent-infested buildings or outbuildings.
“I want to emphasize that as far as we know, none of these three deceased individuals engaged in activities typically associated with exposure,” Boo said, per PEOPLE. “Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste.”
One victim was found to have vacuumed areas later shown to contain mouse droppings, a practice that can aerosolize the virus and heighten the risk of infection.
Health officials say the third deceased resident was a “young adult.”
Symptoms of hantavirus infection begin one to eight weeks after exposure and initially mimic the flu — fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and abdominal pain. After a few days, the infection may progress rapidly to coughing and severe respiratory distress.
Health experts warn that about one in three people infected with HPS will die.
Mono County has reported 27 total cases of hantavirus since 1993 — the most in any California county. The state sees an average of two to three cases annually, with fewer than 100 cases reported since 1980, according to California’s Department of Public Health.
Officials are particularly concerned that this year’s outbreak in Mammoth Lakes has occurred earlier than usual and in indoor environments where mice have been spotted. “The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year,” said Dr. Boo.
While no new suspected cases have emerged in the past month, the county remains on high alert.
Health officials continue to urge residents to take proactive measures against rodent exposure, including sealing any holes in the home larger than a pencil, storing food in rodent-proof containers, and using snap traps instead of glue or live traps.
To prevent infection, areas suspected of infestation should be ventilated for at least 30 minutes before cleaning. Cleanup should be done while wearing gloves and an N-95 mask. Officials warn against vacuuming or sweeping rodent droppings, which can release the virus into the air. Instead, they recommend spraying affected areas with disinfectant or a 10% bleach solution, allowing it to sit for five minutes, and then carefully wiping clean.