The virus who killed Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, is a relatively rare but fatal threat without vaccine, treatment or treatment.
Hanta virus, a family of pathogens, is mainly spread out by rodents, mainly by mice and excreted in saliva, excretion and urine of animals.
In New Mexico, where Arakawa and Hacking Man lived, the most common carrier of Hanta virus is a small creature with a deer mouse, white sole, big eyes and large ears.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, a retired public health officer in Seattle, said in 1993, the first time in the United States to specialize the development of the disease.
Arakawa, 65, died of Hanta virus pulmonary syndrome, and 95 -year -old Hackman died a week later that he died of hypertension and atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease. Alzheimer’s disease was an important contribution to Hackman’s death.
What are the symptoms?
In the United States, if a person is infected, the virus often causes fatigue, heat and muscle pain, according to the disease control and prevention center. Some people who deal with infections called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) may have headaches, dizziness, chills and stomach problems.
Duchin said, “At first, there is nothing specific to say that there is a Hanta virus. You can think that there are cobids or influenza or actually bad community acquisition infections.
Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, said that the symptoms could take up to eight weeks after exposure. “This is very likely to be missed,” he said.
In the most serious case, the Hanta virus can proceed with the lungs, which can cause dangerous respiratory diseases. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and lung fluid.
Duchin said, “The fatal and fast progressive lung disease can occur very quickly in a few hours. It can be fatal in a very short timeline.
In the late stage, he said, “Blood pressure (leakage vessels) with a low blood pressure falling, which causes the fluid to penetrate, carry oxygen, and to eat oxygen, and lower blood pressure is generally the cause of death and severe disease.”
How common is the Hanta virus?
The disease was first characterized in the United States in 1993 after it broke out in four corners of the southwest in 1993. By the CDC team Employees including Duchin and local New Mexican clinical trials. 14 people ultimately died of outbreak.
“This virus was unknown before 1993, and Duchin, a part of the CDC’s infectious disease information service in 1993, said,” The Virus was not known in 1993 and there was no other bleeding virus. ”
According to CDC, 129 cases of Hanta virus have been confirmed in New Mexico since 1993. More than 860 Hanta viruses have been reported nationwide from 1993 to 2022.
Roberts said, “Vaccine, no treatment, support treatment. “The best way to treat this is preventive.”
How do people get a disease?
The disease is the most frequently reported in the southwestern part of the United States, especially deer mice.
Roberts said, “This is where there is a circulation of the animal group. It is a place where animals are infected and humans follow.
People tend to obtain a virus when they interfere with feces or urine in mice in the corners of dust near the barn, rooms or forests while cleaning.
The New Mexican Ministry of Health has evaluated the risk of Hanta viruses inside Hackman and Arakawa, but found evidence of rodents elsewhere, said in a press conference, Erin Phips, a state -owned veterinarian, said.
“We have identified signs of entry into rodents from other structures of the building.
It is unclear how Arakawa contracted the disease.
In the case of cleaning the living space after the rodent infection, phips said that it is important to wear gloves, use N-95 respiratory tracts, open windows and rely on disinfectants.
PHIPPS said, “Other measures should be taken, including avoiding contact or breathing in aerosolized rodent urine or feces, especially in areas that are not ventilated.
“This can spread the particles into the air, so do not sweep or clean the mouse feces,” she said.
Hanta virus families are also concerned in Europe and Asia, where other versions of viruses are spread by other rodents and can cause bleeding fever with kidney syndrome (HFR).
