Classic pianist Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infection a whole week before her husband, actor Gene Hackman, according to officials.

Arakawa, 65, and Hackman, 95, were both found dead inside their home on February 26.

Arakawa, found in the home’s bathroom with an open prescription bottle and scattered pills nearby, died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Chief Medical Investigator Heather Jarrell spoke earlier today about Arakawa’s rare infection.

Arakawa’s body showed signs of degradation and mummification in the hands and feet as maintenance workers warned the authorities about the couple’s open front door.

According to Dr. Jarrell a thyroid medicine and not associated with her death.

What is Handtavirus?

Handtavirus is found throughout the world and can spread by contact with rodents or with their urine or faeces.

It does not spread between people and is typically reported in the spring and summer.

There are no specific treatments or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.

Medical experts have said that an infection can quickly move forward and become life -threatening.

Sonja Bartolome from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said: “It really starts as influenza: body pain and feels bad in general.”

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome – leading to Arakawa’s death.

The CDC has offered to test samples from Arakawa’s case to learn more about the strain of viruses that infected her and to perform pathology testing.

The majority of Hantavirus -Scases in Western US States

The CDC began to track the virus after a 1993 outbreak in the Four Corners region, which is an area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.

Most of us cases since then have been in Western states, especially the southwest.

Between 1993 and 2022 there were 864 reported US cases.

New Mexico reported a total of 129 cases of Handtavirus pulmonary syndrome with 52 deaths between 1975 and 2023, according to the state health department.

It included seven in 2023 and another seven in 2024.

The symptoms start between one to eight weeks after exposure and may initially include fatigue, fever and muscle pain, according to the CDC.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath and density in the chest when the lungs are filled with fluid.

Outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonal Syndrome generally occurs in South and North America, according to Coalition for epidemic emergency services.

HANDTAVIRUSSES is not known to be present in Australian rodents and there has never been a Recorded case in the country.

Minimizing contact with rodents reduces risks by hantavirus

The CDC has said of a third of people developing respiratory symptoms from the disease can die.

The best way to avoid germ is to minimize contact with rodents and their dropping.

Public Health experts have warned against sweeping or vacuuming dropping that can cause the virus to get on the air.

It is also recommended to use protective gloves and a bleach solution to clean up rodent droppings.

ABC/AP