Gene Hackman’s home was a ‘breeding ground’ for the hantavirus, which killed his wife Betsy Arakawa before his own death a week later.
The couple were found dead along with one of their dogs at their New Mexico property on February 26.
After initial concern over carbon monoxide poisoning, a pathologist concluded the Bonnie and Clyde actor died aged 95 of heart disease, with Alzheimer’s playing a significant role.
His death came a week after Arakawa died, aged 65, from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease.
The New Mexico Department of Public Health has since conducted a health assessment at their Santa Fe home.
According to TMZ, they unearthed a ‘breeding ground’ for the virus in the rodent-infested outbuildings.
The virus is typically spread through rodent urine and droppings, which you can come into contact with when cleaning.
Alive and dead rats were discovered in three of the garages, with droppings discovered in a further three garages, two casitas, and three sheds.
Droppings were also discovered in the two parked cars, as well as traps found throughout the property, suggesting this was a known issue.
The Public Health team determined inside the main house that the risk of contracting the virus was ‘low’, with no signs of an infestation.
Hantavirus is incredibly rare in the US, with less than 50 cases per year on average after first being discovered in South Korea in 1978.
The Unforgiven superstar was discovered dead in the mudroom at their property while the musician was in a bathroom with one of their dogs.
Officers confirmed that they had been ‘dead for some time’, with their bodies showing signs of decomposition and mummification.
Hackman and his concert pianist wife were rarely seen in public after his retirement in 2004
They wed in 1991, after dating for seven years, with the Superman actor reportedly leaving his entire estate to Arakawa in his 1995 will.
Her will is said to include a clause that if they died within 90 days of each other, all proceeds from the estate would be donated to charity.
Hackman also has one son and two daughters — Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman — with his ex-wife Faye Maltese.
They tied the knot in 1956 but divorced after 30 years in 1986, with Maltese dying in 2017.
Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie joined granddaughter Annie in releasing a statement with the sad news as they paid tribute to the actor.
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy,’ they said.
‘He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.’
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