Hantavirus is not exactly a household word — or a disease that many people think much about. That changed when complications caused by the rare virus killed Betsy Arakawa, wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illnesses and death. Some forms do more damage to the lungs. Other strains can destroy the kidneys.
Whatever the strain, the infectious diseases are most often spread by rodents. In much of the world, there has been no record of the virus being transmitted person to person, except for a rare strain found in South America. Here's what you should know about the virus.
