Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried mainly by certain rodents. In the United States, infection can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare but potentially fatal illness in which the lungs can rapidly fill with fluid. The usual route is breathing in particles contaminated by infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material—not ordinary casual contact with another person.
The illness became the subject of widespread attention after New Mexico officials announced on March 7, 2025, that Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman’s wife, died from HPS. Officials separately attributed Hackman’s death to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease listed as a significant contributing condition. The available public information does not establish exactly how Arakawa was exposed, and it does not show that Hackman contracted hantavirus from her.
Medical note: This article is general health information, not a diagnosis. Anyone who may have encountered rodents and develops fever, severe muscle aches, unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, or breathing trouble should contact a medical professional promptly and mention the rodent exposure. Severe difficulty breathing is an emergency.
What happened to Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman?
Arakawa and Hackman were found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26, 2025. At a March 7 news conference, New Mexico’s chief medical investigator said Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome approximately a week before Hackman. The same official determination said Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor. Both deaths were classified as natural causes, according to contemporary reporting by ABC News.
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That distinction matters. “Rodent-passed illness” is understandable shorthand, but rodent-borne virus is more precise. Hantavirus is not normally spread through casual contact with a person who has HPS, and there is no public evidence that Hackman’s death was caused by hantavirus or by exposure to his wife.
Some public reports described rodent-related environmental findings at the property. Those findings may support concern about possible rodent exposure, but they do not prove which rodent, room, object, or activity transmitted the virus. The exact source of Arakawa’s infection was not publicly established in the available reporting. Source New Mexico’s account of the health investigation also distinguishes environmental conditions from a confirmed transmission event.
Hantavirus is a family of viruses, not one disease
Hantaviruses are enveloped viruses maintained in persistent infections in particular rodent species. Infected animals generally do not appear sick, but they may shed virus in their urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting materials. Different hantaviruses are associated with different rodent reservoirs and can produce different illnesses in humans.
The most useful distinction for a U.S. audience is between:
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Illness | Where it is most associated | Main organs and features |
|---|---|---|
| Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) | The Americas, including the United States | Primarily affects the lungs and cardiovascular system; breathing can deteriorate quickly. |
| Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) | More commonly Europe and Asia | Primarily affects the kidneys and can involve bleeding, low blood pressure, and other systemic effects. |
The World Health Organization’s hantavirus fact sheet describes hantaviruses as rodent-associated viruses and emphasizes that the clinical syndrome depends on the virus and geography. In the United States, the disease discussed in connection with Arakawa was specifically HPS.
How does hantavirus spread?
In the United States, the usual exposure occurs when contaminated material is disturbed and becomes aerosolized. A person may inhale particles from:
- Rodent urine or droppings
- Saliva
- Nesting material
- Dried debris in a room, shed, garage, cabin, attic, crawl space, or vehicle where rodents have been active
Sweeping, vacuuming, or aggressively disturbing dried waste can increase the chance that contaminated particles become airborne. Virus can also enter through cuts or other broken skin, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Rodent bites are a possible route but are less common than inhaling contaminated particles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s prevention guidance recommends treating rodent waste cautiously because a household usually cannot tell which wild rodents are infected.
Are all mouse droppings dangerous?
No. It would be inaccurate to say that every dropping contains hantavirus. Only certain rodents carry particular hantaviruses, and infection is uncommon. The practical problem is that people cleaning a home generally cannot identify an infected animal or determine whether dried waste is contaminated by looking at it. Safe wet cleanup and rodent exclusion are therefore recommended instead of trying to judge the risk visually.
Is hantavirus contagious between people?
Ordinary person-to-person transmission is not the normal explanation for HPS cases in the United States. The CDC says human-to-human transmission has not been documented for the North American hantaviruses that cause HPS. The WHO has reported limited person-to-person transmission involving Andes virus in South America, so the most accurate statement is not that transmission between people is impossible under every circumstance, but that it is not the typical U.S. pattern.
That distinction is especially important in reporting Arakawa’s death: there is no basis in the available evidence for implying that she infected Hackman.
Symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
Early HPS symptoms are nonspecific. They can resemble influenza, COVID-19, other respiratory infections, or gastrointestinal illness. Possible early symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue and weakness
- Severe muscle aches
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Chills
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal symptoms
After the initial illness, some patients enter a respiratory phase. This can involve:
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- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Low blood oxygen
- Rapidly worsening fluid accumulation in the lungs
The respiratory phase can worsen abruptly. According to the CDC, approximately 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms die, although a population statistic cannot predict what will happen to an individual patient and may vary with the cases being counted, recognition, and access to critical care. HPS should be described as potentially fatal and often severe, not as an inevitable death sentence.
Early symptoms alone cannot confirm hantavirus. If a person has a plausible rodent exposure and develops a flu-like illness—especially fever combined with severe muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, or breathlessness—they should seek medical advice promptly and explicitly mention the exposure. The CDC’s clinical overview notes that the illness can be difficult to recognize early because its symptoms overlap with other conditions.
How doctors diagnose and treat hantavirus
Diagnosis
There is no single symptom that proves a person has hantavirus. Clinicians consider:
- The pattern and speed of the illness
- Possible contact with rodents or rodent-contaminated environments
- Physical findings, including respiratory and cardiovascular changes
- Laboratory testing
Testing may be challenging very early in the illness, when symptoms look like more common infections. The CDC notes that repeat testing may be considered if an initial test was performed unusually early and clinical suspicion remains. A person should not wait for a home test or try to diagnose HPS from symptoms online, particularly once breathing symptoms appear.
Treatment
There is no universally curative, specific treatment for hantavirus disease. Treatment is primarily supportive and may require hospitalization, supplemental oxygen, intensive monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and cardiovascular or respiratory support. Early recognition gives clinicians the best opportunity to provide that support before the illness becomes critical.
Antibiotics do not treat hantavirus itself, and there is no over-the-counter product that cures HPS. Other infections may initially look similar and may require different treatment, which is another reason to seek professional evaluation rather than assuming the cause.
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How to prevent hantavirus at home
The most important prevention strategy is controlling rodents and preventing them from entering or nesting in living spaces. The CDC identifies rodent control as the primary prevention measure for HPS.
1. Exclude rodents
- Seal openings through which mice or other rodents can enter.
- Inspect homes, garages, sheds, cabins, attics, crawl spaces, and outbuildings.
- Use rodent-proof hardware cloth and suitable sealing materials where openings need reinforcement.
- Repair gaps around doors, windows, roofs, pipes, vents, and utility penetrations.
Exclusion is more durable than removing one animal after it has already entered. Trapping can be part of the response when rodents are present; mouse snap traps are one practical household tool, but trapping alone does not seal entry points, remove food sources, or make contaminated waste safe.
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- Store food, pet food, and animal feed in rodent-resistant containers.
- Clean up spills and avoid leaving food or water accessible overnight.
- Reduce clutter and materials that rodents can use for nesting.
- Keep areas around homes and outbuildings as unsuitable for rodent shelter as reasonably possible.
- Check infrequently used vehicles, cabins, sheds, and storage spaces before spending time inside them.
These steps lower the chance of contact, but no consumer product or single cleanup action can guarantee that a home is free of hantavirus risk.
How to clean a small amount of rodent urine or droppings
For a small amount of rodent waste, the CDC advises wet cleaning rather than sweeping or vacuuming. The goal is to prevent contaminated dust from becoming airborne.
- Do not sweep or vacuum. Avoid actions that can disperse dried urine, droppings, or nesting material into the air.
- Wear gloves. Rubber or plastic gloves are recommended for the cleanup. Disposable cleaning gloves can be used as part of that basic protection, but gloves do not provide complete respiratory protection and do not replace careful wet cleaning.
- Thoroughly wet the material. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution. Keep the waste wet and allow it to soak rather than immediately brushing or wiping it dry. An EPA-registered disinfectant is one CDC-supported option for this purpose.
- Wipe up the waste. Use paper towels or another disposable material after the contaminated material has been thoroughly wetted.
- Discard the waste safely. Place used towels and waste in the appropriate garbage bag according to local public-health guidance.
- Disinfect the surface again. Clean and disinfect the affected area and any reusable tools used during the process.
- Remove gloves carefully and wash your hands. Wash hands thoroughly after taking off the gloves.
The CDC’s rodent cleanup instructions specify a fresh household bleach solution made with 1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water, approximately a 1:9 ratio. Make the solution fresh, and never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. Follow the product label when using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
When not to clean the area yourself
Do not treat a heavy infestation like a few scattered droppings. Enclosed areas, dead rodents, extensive nesting material, or a large amount of contamination may require stronger precautions and specialized handling. In those circumstances, follow local or state public-health advice and consider a licensed pest-exclusion professional or qualified rodent-remediation service. A household mask or pair of gloves alone should not create false confidence that a heavily contaminated space is safe.
What this case does—and does not—tell us
Arakawa’s diagnosis demonstrates why rodent exposure can have serious consequences, but it does not establish that every rodent sighting or dropping will cause illness. It also does not identify the precise exposure at the Santa Fe property. Responsible reporting should keep three facts separate:
- The diagnosis: New Mexico officials said Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
- The likely exposure category: HPS in the United States is associated with infected rodents and contaminated materials.
- The unknown details: The public evidence did not establish the specific rodent, object, room, or activity that transmitted the virus.
For most households, the sensible response is not panic. It is rodent exclusion, food and nesting-site control, and safe wet cleanup of small amounts of waste. Anyone who becomes ill after a possible exposure should tell a clinician about it early, because HPS may begin with symptoms that look ordinary and then progress quickly.
Sources and further reading
- World Health Organization: Hantavirus fact sheet
- CDC: Hantavirus prevention
- CDC: How to clean up after rodents
- CDC: Clinical overview of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- CDC: About hantavirus
- ABC News: March 7, 2025 reporting on the medical determinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hantavirus spread from one person to another?
Not usually in the United States. Human-to-human transmission has not been documented for the North American hantaviruses that cause HPS. Limited person-to-person transmission has been reported with Andes virus in South America, so the geographic and viral context matters.
Can I vacuum mouse droppings?
No. CDC guidance says not to sweep or vacuum rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material because doing so can put contaminated particles into the air. Wet the material thoroughly with an EPA-registered disinfectant or the CDC’s fresh bleach solution, then wipe it up while wearing gloves.
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Does every mouse carry hantavirus?
No. Hantaviruses are associated with particular rodent species and not every mouse is infected. Because a household cannot determine infection by looking at a rodent or its droppings, safe cleanup and rodent exclusion are recommended.
What should I do if I develop symptoms after rodent exposure?
Contact a medical professional promptly and specifically mention the rodent exposure. Fever, severe muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, or shortness of breath can have many causes, but breathing difficulty requires emergency care.
What caused Gene Hackman’s death?
New Mexico officials said Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor. Officials said Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; the available public evidence does not establish that Hackman contracted hantavirus.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Hantavirus is a group of rodent-associated viruses. In the United States, the serious illness of concern is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, usually acquired by inhaling particles contaminated with rodent waste. Arakawa’s HPS diagnosis was separate from the official cause of Hackman’s death, and her exact exposure was not publicly established. Prevent exposure through rodent exclusion and safe wet cleanup—never by sweeping or vacuuming droppings—and seek urgent medical care for compatible symptoms after possible exposure.
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