Ms. Arakawa, the wife of the actor Gene Hackman, died from the effects of a disease often caused by contact with droppings from infected rodents.

Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus infection, officials in New Mexico announced Friday. Hantavirus, found throughout the world, is spread by contact with rodents or their urine or feces.

Betsy Arakawa — the classical pianist married to Gene Hackman — died last month of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease linked to rodents, New Mexico authorities announced Friday.

Betsy Arakawa died from a respiratory illness linked to a rare virus transmitted by infected rodents. Here's what to know about the deadly disease.

Hantaviruses can infect and cause serious disease in people worldwide, according to the CDC. People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.

N ew Mexico health officials have announced that Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist, businesswoman, and wife of renowned actor Gene Hackman, died from a rare disease known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

The suspected way Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, caught the rare disease that led to her death has been revealed.