The tragic death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa shook their Santa Fe community. However, it has now emerged that the rat-borne virus which killed the classical pianist, which is spread through particles in the air, has now struck again in the ski town of Mammoth Lakes, California, surrounded by the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains.

Many will never have heard of hantavirus before - a condition causing flu-like symptoms following the inhalation of bacteria carried in rat droppings, urine, or saliva. The virus can also strike if someone is bitten or scratched by a rodent. While it merely causes a flu-like illness for some, for others it can lead to a severe and life-threatening lung condition known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

The latter caused the death of Gene's 65-year-old wife and subsequently went on to kill three more citizens of the same California town, as reported on Thursday (April 3) by Mono County Health and Human Services Public Health Division.

Mono County Public Health Officer, Dr Tom Boo said he found the deaths "tragic and alarming" - particularly as none of the deceased seemed to have had lifestyles that would have put them at risk of exposure to the virus.

He cautioned the public to beware of deer mice - a particular breed of rodent known to carry the infection - but pointed out that rats and mice had not been found in the latest casualty's home. Symptoms, which begin one to eight weeks after exposure, can include fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and a high temperature.

Betsy was one of the unlucky ones. She had sought medical help in the days leading up to her death, making an appointment with a physician for February 12 - but she failed to appear, and died soon afterwards.

Due to suffering from Alzheimer's, Gene was believed to have been unable to process her death, and did not report it. By February 18, the Hollywood actor had died too, in the same home where his wife's body lay, with the cause of death recorded as severe heart disease, complicated by Alzheimer's and kidney disease.

Heartbreakingly, the Bonnie and Clyde and Superman star, who was 95, had no food in his stomach at the time. Meanwhile, we exclusively told of how Gene missed out a major clause in his will - read about it here.