Health officials in New Mexico have released new findings following the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, revealing a disturbing hantavirus outbreak at their Santa Fe estate. The state’s Department of Health confirms that rodent infestations were discovered across multiple outbuildings on the couple’s property, with evidence of rat nests and rodent carcasses in at least eight detached structures.
Federal health investigators now link Betsy Arakawa’s death directly to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but often fatal illness transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Arakawa, 65, reportedly died from severe respiratory complications caused by the virus. Hackman, 95, died just days later, with preliminary findings indicating his death was unrelated to the virus and likely due to complications from advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
The case has drawn national attention, not only due to Hackman’s iconic Hollywood legacy, but also because of the unusual nature and severity of the public health findings at his secluded northern New Mexico property. The couple was found deceased in February 2025 after neighbors reported not seeing either of them for several days.
New Mexico has long had the highest number of hantavirus cases in the United States. Between 1975 and 2023, the state reported 129 confirmed cases, resulting in 52 deaths—a mortality rate of over 40%. The virus is most commonly spread by the deer mouse, a species prevalent in the rural regions of the Southwest. Although cases are rare nationwide, the arid climate and widespread rodent populations in New Mexico create conditions that make hantavirus outbreaks more likely.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were called in to assist with the investigation following the couple’s deaths. According to the joint report released this week, contaminated areas in the Hackman estate included an art studio, tool shed, storage barn, greenhouse, and several guest cabins—none of which were connected to the main residence. It’s believed Arakawa may have contracted the virus while cleaning or accessing one of these spaces weeks before her symptoms began.
Health inspectors stress that while hantavirus cannot be spread from person to person, the virus can remain airborne for a short period after contaminated dust is stirred up, especially in confined, unventilated areas. The Department of Health is now urging all New Mexico residents—especially those living in rural or semi-rural homes—to exercise caution when cleaning out buildings or storage areas that may harbor rodents.
State epidemiologist Dr. Miranda Lopez says the deaths are a tragic reminder of how quickly hantavirus can become deadly if left undiagnosed. “This is a heartbreaking case involving two individuals who were well known and beloved,” she says. “We hope it brings awareness to how important rodent control and prevention can be, even in otherwise clean and well-kept properties.”
Gene Hackman, who retired from acting in 2004, lived a quiet life in New Mexico for decades. Known for his roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and Hoosiers, Hackman received numerous accolades during his career, including two Academy Awards. Arakawa, a former pianist and businesswoman, was Hackman’s wife of over 30 years.
The couple’s deaths have reignited discussions about the dangers of hantavirus in rural American homes and the need for better awareness and preventative action. The New Mexico Department of Health is now coordinating with local authorities to provide information kits on safe cleanup practices and to distribute rodent control resources to at-risk households.
The estate remains closed as environmental teams complete decontamination procedures. Family members have not commented publicly, but sources close to the couple say they had been increasingly private in recent years and remained devoted to one another until the end.
