Getting To Know Hantavirus, The Disease That Caused Actor Gene Hackman's Wife To Die

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JAKARTA - The cause of death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, totaling Arakawa, was finally revealed after they were found dead at their home on February 26, 2025. Through the autopsy results, Gene Hackman died of heart disease and Alzheimer's on February 17, 2025.

Meanwhile, Totaly Arakawa died of a hatavirus on February 11, reported by People on March 8, 2025. The cause of death of Gene Hackman's wife stole the attention, because the hantavirus sounded foreign, but it turned out to be very dangerous.

Hantavirus is a virus similar to the flu, which deals with squirrels such as deer mice, cotton mice, rice fields, to white-legged mice. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the hantavirus is a case that must be reported immediately.

The case of the hantavirus is rare, but it can be very fatal. This virus can be transmitted to humans when the human is bitten or in contact with the urine, dirt, and saliva of infectedAUtics.

Hantavirus can cause pulmonary syndrome, namely Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome or HPS. Symptoms caused by this virus are fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches, especially in thighs, hips, back, and shoulders.

Not only that, people who are infected may also experience shortness of breath in the chest due to fluid that accumulates in the lungs. These symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after coming into contact with infected animals.

HPS is a dangerous disease and has the potential to be deadly if not treated immediately. This disease can be diagnosed through blood tests and can be cured if detected quickly.

After being diagnosed, patients with HPS will undergo a series of treatments. Starting from intubation to mechanical ventilation to help breathing and regulate fluids in the lungs, as well as blood oxygenation.