Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman’s Wife, Marks New Mexico’s First Hantavirus Death in 2025

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed on March 7 that a 65-year-old woman from Santa Fe County has died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), marking the first reported case in New Mexico this year. Through the media, the death has been recorded as pianist Betsy Arakawa, actor Gene Hackman’s wife.

Hantavirus is a severe respiratory illness caused by the Sin Nombre virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected rodents, or their urine, droppings, or saliva. The virus can become airborne when disturbed, posing risk of inhalation. No evidence of human-to-human transmission has occurred in New Mexico, NMDOH said.

“This tragic death reminds us that hantavirus remains a serious public health concern in our state,” said Erin Phipps, NMDOH state public health veterinarian. “While cases are relatively rare, the mortality rate is significant. We urge New Mexicans to take preventative measures seriously, particularly when cleaning areas where rodents may have been present.”

Hantavirus was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States, with most cases occurring in Western states. As of the end of 2022, 864 cases of hantavirus disease were reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NMDOH confirmed seven cases of Hantavirus in New Mexico last year, followed by seven in 2023, and three in 2022. 

Early symptoms of a Hantavirus infection may look and feel like the flu or a stomach bug and include fever and muscle aches, possibly with chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cough, which can progress to respiratory distress and severe illness, NMDOH said. Symptoms typically develop within one to six weeks after rodent exposure.

Though no specific treatment for Hantavirus exists, chances for recovery are better if medical attention is sought early and the healthcare provider is told about the exposure to rodents or their droppings. The deer mouse is the main carrier for Sin Nombre virus, which is the hantavirus strain found in New Mexico. People are usually exposed to the virus around their homes, cabins or sheds, especially when they clean out or explore enclosed, poorly ventilated areas that have mouse droppings.

NMDOH recommends these precautions to reduce hantavirus risk:

• Air out closed-up structures like cabins and sheds, as well as abandoned or stored vehicles, before entering them.   
• Use traps to control mouse populations.  
• Seal homes, buildings, and shelters to prevent rodents from entering.  
• Disinfect nests and droppings with 10% bleach solution before cleaning up.   
• Never sweep or vacuum rodent droppings.  
• Store hay, wood, and compost away from dwellings.  
• Eliminate trash and junk piles that can harbor rodents.  
• Keep pet food and water in rodent-proof containers.