The rare disease that claimed the life of Gene Hackman’s beloved wife, Betsy, is back in the spotlight — and this time, it could be worse than ever.
Doctors are now sounding the alarm over a disturbing trend
It hasn’t been long since Betsy Arakawa and legendary actor Gene Hackman were found dead under mysterious circumstances in their New Mexico home.
Shock quickly turned to heartbreak as official reports revealed the grim truth: Hackman had been suffering from advanced dementia and severe heart disease — while his wife, Betsy, just 65 years old, had tragically fallen victim to the rare and deadly hantavirus.
Betsy Arakawa is believed to have died around February 11, followed by Gene Hackman, who passed away a week later on February 18.
Now, barely two months after Arakawa’s sudden and tragic death, the same deadly disease has struck again — claiming the lives of three more Americans in a quiet California town of Mammoth Lakes, sending shockwaves through the local community and alarming health officials nationwide.
According to Mono County Public Health, all three victims lived and worked in the picturesque town of Mammoth Lakes, nestled at the base of Mammoth Mountain.
Each began feeling unwell sometime in February.
The first death was reported on February 27, the second on March 26, and the most recent just this past Thursday. One of the victims had a significant rodent infestation in their home, while no signs of mice were found in the residences of the other two.
Growing concerns
In a statement released on April 3, Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County’s Public Health Officer, addressed growing concerns following the third confirmed case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) — all of which have ended in tragedy.
”A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming,” Boo stated.
”We don’t have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity. We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes.”
