Blog Article

Understanding Hantavirus and How to Stay Safe

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, has been in the news lately following the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman. But what is HPS?

Published March 12, 2025

By Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP, CHEP and Waleed Javaid, MD, MBA, MS, FACP, FIDSA
Academy Contributors

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is spread through contact with rodents. Image courtesy of Art Johnson via stock.adobe.com.

The recent passing of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), has brought this rare but serious disease into public focus. Hantaviruses are a family of viruses primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent excreta, particularly urine, droppings, or saliva. In the United States, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is a common carrier.

HPS typically begins with nonspecific, flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, patients may experience coughing and shortness of breath due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. The mortality rate for HPS is approximately 35%. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus infections; therefore, prevention, early recognition and supportive medical care are crucial.

More than 800 Cases Since 1993

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking hantavirus infections in 1993, a total of 864 cases have been reported in the United States through 2022. The majority of these cases have occurred in the western states, particularly in the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge. Notably, New Mexico has reported the highest number of cases, with 122, followed by Colorado with 119 cases. This distribution underscores the importance of heightened awareness and preventive measures in these areas to mitigate the risk of hantavirus exposure.

In New York State, hantavirus cases are exceedingly rare. Since surveillance began in 1993, there have been five identified cases. Notably, a case reported in 2017 involved a Long Island woman who contracted the New York orthohantavirus, leading to severe respiratory failure and cerebral complications. Ultimately, the patient required surgical intervention and was asymptomatic after one year of treatment.

Minimizing Risk

To minimize the risk of hantavirus exposure, individuals should:

Control rodents both inside and outside the home, as this is the best way to prevent hantavirus.
Remove and secure trash around the home and workplace to limit rodent access.
Seal holes and gaps in homes to prevent rodent entry.
Call a professional exterminator if the infestation is severe.
Store food in rodent-proof containers to reduce the likelihood of attracting rodents.
Dispose of dead rodents properly by using gloves, placing the animal in a double plastic bag, and discarding it in the trash—avoiding direct handling.
Use gloves, a mask, and disinfectants when cleaning areas contaminated by rodent droppings. Avoid actions that can aerosolize the virus, such as sweeping or vacuuming.
When cleaning rodent droppings, wet them down first with a 10% bleach solution and wear gloves to minimize exposure risk.
Avoid contact with rodents and rodent burrows when spending time outdoors in areas where hantavirus may be present.

While hantavirus infections remain rare, the tragic death of Betsy Arakawa underscores the importance of awareness and preventive measures, especially in areas where human-rodent interactions are more likely.

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About Waleed Javaid, MD, MBA, MS, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA

Dr. Waleed Javaid is Professor of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Author

Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP, CHEP

Chief Biopreparedness Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals

Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP, CHEP is an internationally renowned epidemiologist in special pathogens preparedness and response, biosecurity advisor, and science communicator. She serves as the Chief Biopreparedness Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, the U.S.’s largest municipal healthcare delivery system. Dr. Madad is a Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, where she leads the Women in STEM and Diversity in STEM series. She is Core Faculty at the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) and Affiliate Faculty at Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Dr. Madad’s work focuses on the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from infectious disease outbreaks, with an emphasis on healthcare and public health biopreparedness. She is known for her innovative strategies, which integrate emergency management principles with epidemiological methods, significantly contributing to the development of robust healthcare systems capable of responding to emerging disease threats. She is also the founder of Critical Health Voices (Subscribe here: https://criticalhealthvoices.substack.com/), a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines of healthcare and public health. Critical Health Voices exists to cut through misinformation and disinformation by providing trustworthy, evidence-based insights directly from professionals working at the intersection of science, medicine, and health security.