LOS ANGELES, March 8 -- Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus, a rare but deadly disease spread by rodent droppings.

Her death is renewing attention on hantavirus risks and prevention, particularly in regions where rodent exposure is common.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a virus carried by rodents, primarily affecting the lungs and respiratory system.

The name hantavirus comes from the Hantan River in South Korea, where the virus was first identified in the 1970s.

Researchers encountered it while studying an outbreak of Korean haemorrhagic fever among US and South Korean soldiers during the Korean War (1950-1953).

It can develop into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which has a high mortality ra...