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Rare Rodent-Borne Virus Raises Concerns in the US
Health authorities are raising concerns over the expanding presence of a rare virus in the United States, a rodent-borne illness notably linked to the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of acclaimed actor Gene Hackman. This virus, seldom encountered in the US, has prompted expert warnings due to recent findings suggesting a wider spread among rodent populations than previously understood. The hantavirus, responsible for serious respiratory conditions, is transmitted through contact with infected rodents.
Tragic Case Highlights Hantavirus Threat
The death of Betsy Arakawa at her Santa Fe residence, shared with her husband Gene Hackman, initially sparked widespread speculation. While Mr. Hackman’s death was attributed to cardiac disease, Ms. Arakawa, a celebrated pianist, succumbed to hantavirus. This revelation brought national attention to the severe, though uncommon, respiratory ailment contracted via exposure to rodent excrement, typically through inhalation.
Hantavirus: Origins and US Prevalence
First identified in South Korea in 1978, hantavirus is considered uncommon in the United States, with annual cases remaining below 50. To provide context, the West Nile Virus sees approximately 2,000 cases in the US each year. The limited number of US cases is partly attributed to fewer rodent species acting as primary carriers compared to regions in Asia and Europe. However, recent studies indicate a potentially broader circulation within US rodent populations than previously recognized.
Expanded Rodent Host Range Identified
Research conducted at Virginia Tech has revealed that while deer mice remain the primary source of hantavirus in North America, the virus’s reach may be more extensive. Scientists discovered antibodies in six additional rodent species where hantavirus presence was not previously documented. This suggests the virus may be circulating among a larger variety of rodents.
Despite these findings, experts emphasize that the risk of human infection remains highest in areas with substantial deer mouse populations, particularly in the Southwestern states.
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Betsy Arakawa’s death from hantavirus in their Santa Fe home, shared with Gene Hackman, focused national attention on the rare illness.
Hantavirus: A Potentially Fatal Illness
Hantaviruses are a global group of viruses known to cause severe diseases with significant mortality rates, with fatality rates around 50 percent. This level of severity is comparable to illnesses like Ebola, depending on the strain, where death rates can range from 60 to 90 percent.
Human transmission occurs through inhaling airborne particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Hantavirus manifests differently geographically, causing distinct illnesses based on location.
Regional Variations in Hantavirus Diseases
In Asia, the Hantaan virus is associated with hemorrhagic fever accompanied by kidney disease. A similar condition in Europe is linked to the Dobrava-Belgrade virus.
Within the Americas, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness, is primarily caused by the Sin Nombre virus and the Andes virus.
The Sin Nombre virus was initially identified in New Mexico in 1993.
Researching Hantavirus Spread
The Virginia Tech research team utilized data from the National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observatory Network to gain deeper insights into hantavirus transmission in natural environments.
Their research concentrated on the influence of environmental factors and geographical patterns on rodent species that carry the virus, aiming to understand the dynamics of its spread.
Betsy Arakawa contracted hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the lungs. Gene Hackman’s death was due to heart disease.
Deer mice account for approximately 90% of hantavirus cases in the US, and constituted 79% of positive blood samples in the study.
Study Findings: Rodent Infection Rates
Between 2014 and 2019, a comprehensive program collected and analyzed 14,004 blood samples from 49 rodent species across 45 US locations to assess hantavirus antibody levels.
Deer mice, known to cause around 90% of US hantavirus cases, accounted for 79% of the positive blood samples, as anticipated.
These species exhibited the highest infection rates, with 3% of their blood samples testing positive out of 116 positive samples, aligning with expectations.
However, the research also revealed that some rodent species, including Peromyscus truei and Microtus pennsylvanicus, showed higher percentages of hantavirus infections than deer mice, ranging from 4.3% to 4.9%.
Paradigm Shift in Understanding Virus Circulation
Paanwaris Paansri, a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech and study co-author, noted, ‘While the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is recognized as the primary carrier in North America, our study indicates that other rodent species exhibit a higher prevalence of hantavirus. This alters the current understanding of hantavirus circulation in wildlife.’
It’s important to consider that these higher percentages are based on smaller sample sizes. For example, only nine out of 184 P. truei and 33 out of 768 M. pennsylvanicus tested positive, compared to 116 out of 3,919 deer mice. Small sample sizes can skew percentages, making infection rates appear higher than they might be in the broader population.
Geographic distribution of hantavirus cases in the US.
Deer Mice Remain Key in Human Risk
The majority of human hantavirus cases are still linked to two or three main deer mouse species, and current data does not suggest that the newly identified rodent species are causing outbreaks or significantly increasing human risk at this time.
Nevertheless, Mr. Paansri emphasizes that these findings demonstrate the virus’s adaptability, expanding scientific knowledge of its fundamental biology and potential for broader impact.
Regional Infection Rate Variations
Virginia showed the highest rodent infection rate, with almost 8% of 99 samples testing positive – 3.8 times the national average of about 2%. Colorado followed with the second-highest rate, and Texas also displayed infection rates more than twice the national average; both states are recognized as higher-risk regions for hantavirus.
Public Health Implications and Future Monitoring
The study’s conclusions may refine how public health agencies track and assess hantavirus risks. Understanding the expanded range of potential rodent hosts can aid in clarifying human cases, particularly in regions where deer mice are less common.
Mr. Paansri added, ‘This new information is anticipated to improve our understanding of when and where hantavirus is most likely to emerge. This is crucial for outbreak prediction and providing informed guidance to public health officials.’
‘We believe that insights from this research can be broadly applied to other wildlife diseases, given their global distribution and similar ecological dynamics.’