(NewsNation) — Public interest in hantavirus has increased after authorities announced Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from the disease.
Dr. William Schaffner says hantavirus is a sometimes fatal disease with flu-like symptoms that is spread to humans through the excretions from deer mice, which are prevalent in the Southwest.
He added that people can survive the viral illness if they seek medical care at the onset of symptoms.