The uncommon hantavirus — that few had heard of earlier than it killed Gene Hackman‘s spouse — has killed extra individuals … this time in California.

Three victims within the city of Mammoth Lakes succumbed to hantavirus … which is what killed the actor’s spouse, Betsy Arakawa.

The Mono County Well being and Human Providers Public Well being Division introduced this week the third loss of life as a consequence of HPS within the city about 330 miles east of San Francisco.

Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Well being Officer, mentioned he discovered the newest case involving hantavirus “tragic and alarming” … and does not perceive the place the deceased particular person would have contacted it.

As you understand … Gene and Betsy had been discovered lifeless of their New Mexico dwelling on Feb. 26 — with Betsy’s reason behind loss of life decided to be hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS is attributable to hantavirus.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious illness knowledgeable and professor on the Keck College of Drugs of USC, advised TMZ on the time … hantavirus impacts the physique quick, and since signs current themselves as a chest chilly — and the virus is so uncommon — it’s usually misdiagnosed.

Hantavirus spreads to people from rat/mouse poop and urine, which normally is contracted when somebody cleans the attic or basement …  and it kills one in three individuals, Dr. Klausner tells us.