Three more people have died in California from hantavirus, the same rare but serious mouse-borne disease that killed Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Arakawa and Hackman were both found dead in their New Mexico home in February.
The deaths all occurred in the rural California town of Mammoth Lakes.
Public health officials are reportedly growing increasingly concerned about further illnesses and deaths from the disease.
Mono County Public Health called the deaths both “tragic” and “alarming.”
In a statement, Mono County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Boo said:
“The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried.”
When hantavirus is present, it occurs in the urine, droppings, and saliva of infected mice, according to the CDC.
In America, it infects deer mice.
The disease cannot be passed from person to person.
It usually manifests after humans have contact with infected mouse secretions or they inhale vaporized secretions that have gotten into the air.
This often occurs when people clean up mouse-infested areas with a vacuum or a broom.
Officials have determined that two of the California deaths happened just this way.
One victim vacuumed rodent droppings, while another had a known mouse infestation in their home.