Betsy Arakawa, the classical pianist married to Gene Hackman, died last month of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease linked to rodents, New Mexico authorities announced Friday.

Authorities said on Friday that actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. But what exactly is this rare illness?

The UAB Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine is an integral part of one of the nation's largest health systems. Nationally known for our compassionate care, cutting-edge research, ...