Betsy Arakawa, wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, died from a respiratory illness linked to hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted by infected rodents, officials confirm.Health experts warn that hantavirus can cause flu-like symptoms after exposure to rodent droppings,

The actor's wife Betsy Arakawa died after developing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) around 11 February, a pathologist said.