There has been a lot of mystery surrounding the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, after they were found dead in their New Mexico home last month.

Arakawa's body was found in a bathroom and showed signs of mummification , and the Oscar-winning actor was found in a mudroom next to his cane. Their dog Zinna was found dead in a kennel, while two other dogs were found roaming the property with the front door open.

Hackman’s and Arakawa's deaths were Initially considered "suspicious" by authorities with carbon dioxide poisoning ruled out. Last week, a medical examiner said Hackman died from natural causes and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly, potentially causing death, according to the CDC . People can become exposed to the virus by inhaling or having contact with urine, dropping or saliva of infected rodents, such as certain species of mice and rats. It does not spread from person to person.

Hantavirus symptoms

Early symptoms of hantavirus can include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, with about half of people experiencing headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal issues, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC .

Late symptoms that appear four to 10 days after initial symptoms start can include coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest as lungs fill with fluid, the CDC says.

How deadly is hantavirus?

Hantavirus can rapidly progress to the lungs and cause a dangerous respiratory disease, according to the CDC. About 38% of people who develop the progressive pulmonary illnesses from hantavirus die, according to the CDC. There is no known treatment.

Between 1993 and 2022, there were 864 cases of hantavirus disease in the United States. Of those, 35% of people have died, according to the CDC.

Hantavirus can also cause a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, which can lead to organ failure, according to the American Lung Association .

How do you get hantavirus?

People who are exposed by breathing in when fresh urine, dropping or nesting material of infected mice or rats are stirred up, the CDC said. The virus can also spread when saliva, urine or feces from an infected animal gets into cuts on a person's skin or their eyes, nose or mouth.

What rodents carry hantavirus? Do squirrels carry hantavirus?

Some species of mice and rats carry hantavirus, with the deer mice the most common carrier in North and Central America. Other carriers include the white-footed mouse In the Northeast and the cotton rat and rice rat in the Southeast.

Squirrels and chipmunks can also carry the hantavirus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture' Forestry Service, whose workers undergo hantavirus prevention training .

Have there been any hantavirus cases in New Jersey?

There have been no cases of hantavirus in New Jersey since the CDC began doing surveillance in 1993.

Where is hantavirus most common?

The CDC started to report cases of hantavirus in 1993 following an outbreak in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Eighteen people were diagnosed with hantavirus in the outbreak, fourteen people died .

New Mexico has the most cases (122), ahead of Colorado (119), Arizona (85) and California (78).

How did Gene Hackman die?

Gene Hackman, 95, had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer's disease and died from natural causes . He was "in a very poor state of health," Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico's chef medical examiner said, and was alone at home with his wife's body for days. He had not eaten recently but was not dehydrated, officials said. He likely wasn't aware his wife had died, officials said, citing his Alzheimer's disease.

How did Gene Hackman's wife, Betsey Arakawa, die?

Betsey Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around Feb. 11, when she last had any known communication. It is believed she died before Hackman, and authorities found her body in decomposition, with mummification in her hands and feet.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team .