Health officials found extensive evidence of rats on Gene Hackman’s New Mexico property during a hantavirus risk assessment test after the star’s wife was killed by the rodent-linked disease in late February.
An environmental assessment of the property conducted in March — just one week after the couple was found dead — revealed rodent feces in three garages, two casitas and three sheds. An additional live rodent, a dead rodent, and an entire nest were found in the three detached garages, according to the report by the New Mexico medical investigator’s office.
The findings weren’t included in the initial report after Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home on Feb. 26, but the full report first obtained by TMZ on Monday revealed the full extent of the infestation.
Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a rare disease humans can catch from contact with rodents, rodent feces, saliva and urine, according to autopsy results.
Hackman, 95, died a few days after Arakawa, following complications with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease along with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
The New Mexico Department of Health staff previously conducted the risk assessment on March 5 in accordance with the death investigation to make sure first responders and family members who had accessed the property were safe.
The initial assessment determined that the risk of exposure in the primary residence was low and that there were no signs of rodent activity inside. It did not include the new information revealed about the condition of the outbuildings.
All the other eight buildings and two vehicles on the property were accessible to rodents, according to the report. Investigators found live traps in the outbuildings meant to contain the rodents.
Hantavirus, while rare, has a 41% fatality rate for patients in New Mexico. The state also has the most reported cases of hantavirus in the country.
Anyone attempting to clean rodent habitats, whether it be in their homes or the natural environment, should avoid contact and, if possible, wear protection.
Hantavirus presents flu-like symptoms at the beginning that can take up to two months to manifest, according to the CDC. Regardless, there is no specific treatment for the virus or its symptoms.
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