Latest news with #GeneHackman
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Hantavirus Warning Issued Months After Gene Hackman's Wife's Death
New Hantavirus Warning Issued Months After Gene Hackman's Wife's Death originally appeared on Parade. Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, tragically passed away after contacting Hantavirus — a rare but serious disease carried by rodents. Now, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the Nevada Department of Wildlife are urging residents to take extra precautions. The agency confirmed two additional cases of the virus in the state on Tuesday, June 10. 'We urge people to be aware of any signs of rodent activity and to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to hantavirus.' Melissa Bullock, the state's medical epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of early detection. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 'Anyone who has been in contact with rodents, nests or droppings and subsequently develops symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome should see a health care provider immediately,' she stated in a press release. Hantavirus is an infectious disease that's typically spread through exposure to infected rodents. Transmission can occur through contact with the animal's urine, droppings or saliva. The early symptoms of HPS include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, followed by coughing and shortness of breath. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPS is a severe and potentially fatal illness — nearly 4 in 10 people who are infected pass away. However, it can be treated if caught early through blood tests and proper medical care. 'As warmer weather arrives, people will be more active in areas such as sheds, barns, trailers, garages and cabins where deer mice have nested or left droppings,' the agency noted. To reduce the risk of hantavirus exposure, health agencies recommend the following, including: Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids. Seal gaps, cracks, or holes in structures to keep mice out. Keep areas clean and free of clutter or food sources. Use gloves and a well-fitted N95 mask when cleaning areas with signs of rodent activity. In March, officials revealed that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The New Mexico Health Department later revealed that investigators had found signs of "rodent entry" in structures on the couple's property. New Hantavirus Warning Issued Months After Gene Hackman's Wife's Death first appeared on Parade on Jun 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Geek Vibes Nation
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Scarecrow' (1973) Blu-Ray Review - Gene Hackman & Al Pacino Bring Emotional Honesty To Road Movie
Just out of jail after serving time on an assault rap, Max (Gene Hackman) is headed for Pittsburgh to open a deluxe car wash. Back from five years at sea, Lion (Al Pacino) wants to hit Detroit and visit the child he's never seen. The dreams may not be glorious but you'll want Max and Lion to fulfill them, because Scarecrow, cowinner of the 1973 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize, has a heart as big as its cross-country journey. Its hard-luck drifters drift permanently into our souls. This is due to teamwork of a high order: The moving performances of Hackman and Pacino, the sensitive direction of Jerry Schatzberg and the glowing landscape cinematography of Vilmos Zsigmond. Hit the road with these two. You'll find the trip unforgettable. For thoughts on Scarecrow, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality Warner Archive provided Scarecrow with a strong 1080p master transfer in 2.39:1 when it was released in 2017 sourced from a new 2K scan of the Interpositive. The cinematography of Vilmos Zsigmond is handled with care thanks to the retention of the natural film grain. The transfer unveils great detail and clarity in many background elements and costumes. Black levels are fairly deep, and highlights stay firm with nothing blown out. The film is primarily clear of shortcomings with little damage or dirt lingering. Compression artifacts, banding, and other such issues are avoided in this transfer. The film presents complex colors within the costumes and the environments that are not overly vibrant yet appear natural. Warner Archive has done a nice job with this one. Audio Quality The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track that is accurate to the intended soundscape of the feature. The film is not overly reliant on a score, but the diegetic and non-diegetic music comes through with respectful fidelity. Dialogue emanates clearly to capture all of the nuances of the exchanges. The more bustling moments are handled favorably and give the track a bit of texture. There is no serious age-related wear and tear to the track such as hissing, dropouts, or popping. The audio presentation matches the quality established by the video side of things. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the feature film. Special Features On The Road with Scarecrow: A four-and-a-half-minute archival featurette that gives a promotional overview of the production of the film. Trailer (3:21) Final Thoughts Scarecrow is a really engaging road movie that finds two distinct, complicated characters fumbling their way across a number of states, making poor decisions while in search of redemption. With two of our greatest performers in the spotlight, the acting craft on display is unbelievable. These two are able to bring an emotional honesty to the characters even when you find some of their actions baffling. This film is not as known as it should be in the pantheon of '70s cinema, but hopefully it will get the respect it deserves at some point. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that sports a lovely A/V presentation and a brief selection of special features. Recommended Scarecrow can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millions warned to beware of frightening rodent disease as two Americans test positive
Experts are sounding the alarm over the spread of a rare deadly virus after two Americans tested positive this week. Hantavirus, the disease that killed Gene's Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa, is a rare but severe respiratory illness spread through exposure, typically inhalation, to rodent droppings. The hantavirus, which kills 30 to 50 percent of people infected, was first identified in South Korea in 1978 when researchers isolated the virus from a field mouse. It is rare in the US, with fewer than 50 cases reported yearly. But now two cases have been confirmed in Nevada - bringing the US' total count to 864 cases since 1993. Health experts are warning the public to be extra vigilant as warmer weather arrives, especially around areas such as sheds, barns, trailers, garages, and cabins where deer mice may have nested in the cold weather and left droppings. Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, and may later progress to headaches, chills, and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Hantavirus can also cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), with patients often experiencing a tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid. HPS can be deadly and 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms die from the disease. Melissa Bullock, Nevada State Medical Epidemiologist, told local 2 News Nevada: 'We urge people to be aware of any signs of rodent activity and to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to hantavirus. 'Anyone who has been in contact with rodents, nests or droppings and subsequently develops symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome should see a health care provider immediately.' No details are known about the two people who have tested positive. To reduce risk of exposure, state health officials recommend airing out spaces where mice droppings could be, avoid sweeping droppings, use disinfectant and wipe up debris, and wear gloves and a mask. Hantaviruses are a group of viruses found worldwide that are spread to people when they inhale aerosolized fecal matter, urine, or saliva from infected rodents. The rarity of hantavirus in the US is partly because the country has fewer rodent species that the illness can circulate amongst, compared to Asia and Europe, where multiple rodent species act as hosts. However, Virginia Tech researchers found that while deer mice are still the primary reservoir for hantaviruses in North America, the virus is now circulating more widely than previously thought, with antibodies detected in six additional rodent species where they had not been documented before. The Virginia Tech team analyzed data from the National Science Foundation's National Ecological Observatory Network to better understand how hantavirus spreads in the wild. Between 2014 and 2019, the program gathered and tested 14,004 blood samples from 49 different mouse species at 45 locations across the US to test for levels of hantavirus antibodies. Seventy-nine percent of positive blood samples came from deer mice species, which cause around 90 percent of all hantavirus cases in the US. But, researchers found that other rodent species had a higher percentage of hantavirus infections than deer mice – between 4.3 and five percent. The vast majority of human cases are traced back to two or three key deer mouse species, but the study's findings reveal that the virus is more flexible than scientists once thought, broadening what they know about its basic biology. Virginia had the highest infection rate among rodents, with nearly eight percent of samples testing positive for hantavirus – four times the national average of around two percent. Colorado had the second-highest infection rate, followed by Texas, both known risk regions for the virus, with average positive blood samples more than twice as high as the national average. The team's findings could influence how public health officials monitor and evaluate hantavirus risk and help clarify human cases in areas where the usual rodent host is uncommon or missing. Mr Paansri said: 'This new information is expected to help us understand where and when hantavirus is most likely to occur, which is crucial for predicting outbreaks and informing public health officials. 'We believe that many lessons learned from this study can be generalized to other wildlife diseases, considering that their distribution is global.'
Geek Tyrant
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Wes Anderson on Gene Hackman Being Furious While Shooting THE ROYAL TENANBAUMS: 'He Left Without Saying Goodbye' — GeekTyrant
Wes Anderson is known for his meticulously crafted worlds, but the behind-the-scenes reality of The Royal Tenenbaums wasn't nearly as whimsical as what ended up on screen, especially when it came to working with the late Gene Hackman. In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Anderson reflected on the tension with Hackman during the making of the 2001 film. The director explained: 'Gene was very annoyed about the money. He was furious. Also, he didn't want to do the film anyway. I talked him into it — I just didn't go away. And everybody else said yes to the salary, so Gene just went with it — and that just became our way.' Hackman played the deeply flawed but oddly endearing Royal Tenenbaum, a role that would become one of his most memorable late-career performances. But despite how awesom he was in the role, Hackman never quite connected with the process or the people around it. Anderson, who was only 32 at the time and directing his third feature, admitted things never really improved between them, even after the cameras stopped rolling. When asked if they stayed in touch after the film's release, Anderson said: 'Not a word. In fact he left without saying goodbye. He was grumpy — we had friction. He didn't enjoy it. I was probably too young and it was annoying to him.' The last conversation Anderson had with Hackman was just as the movie was opening. The filmmaker said: 'And he liked it, but he told me he didn't understand it when we were shooting. I wish I'd shown him 10 minutes, early on. Then, maybe, he would have said, 'OK, I get it.'' Hackman, who passed away in April, was famously selective with his roles late in his career. Bill Murray, who was also part of Tenenbaums, shared his own perspective after Hackman's passing, saying: 'I sympathize with Gene because to him, Wes Anderson was just a punk kid and Gene's made some of the greatest American movies. So he was a little irritable. But he had to work with children, dogs, Kumar [Pallana, who played valet Pagoda], who was like an absolute mystery to all of us anyway. 'They put him in very challenging positions to work, and so he just felt a lot of responsibility and kept thinking, 'What am I doing here with these people?' But the performance he gives is brilliant. And I watched him, and I suffered with him because I saw what he was going through.' Despite the clash, there's no denying that Hackman's work on The Royal Tenenbaums was a masterclass in acting. His performance remains a cornerstone of the film's legacy, even if the experience behind the scenes was far less harmonious.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
All you need to know about: Alzheimer's disease
The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa made headlines some months ago after their bodies were found at their home in Santa Fe, United States. While Ms. Arakawa was found to have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne disease, Mr. Hackman's autopsy findings indicated severe heart disease as well as advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease. The actor was 95 at the time of his death. What is Alzheimer's disease and what do you need to know about it? Read on, to find out. What is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, which is an umbrella term for several diseases that affect the brain, impairing memory, thinking, reasoning, affecting a person's ability to function well. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Alzheimer's disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) states, may contribute to 60–70% of dementia cases. Dementia is currently the seventh-leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally. India is expected to have about 7.6 million afflicted by 2030, as per the Dementia in India Report, 2020, majority of whom are likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease, which means that over time, brain cells are damaged and die, leading the brain to shrink. What causes Alzheimer's disease? The exact causes that lead to Alzheimer's disease are still being studied and are not fully understood. Scientists believe the disease may be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells or neurons that are connected in networks. When a protein called beta amyloid builds up and clumps together, it forms plaques that affect the communication between neurons. Another protein, the tau protein, becomes twisted into strands called tangles, which also affect the functioning of the cells, and damages them. When the cells become damaged and lose their connections with each other, they eventually die. The destruction and death of the brain nerve cells cause the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Genetics, environmental and environmental factors are believed to contribute to the cause. Who is at risk for Alzheimer's disease? Age, being 65 years or older, is one of the primary risk factors. Other risk factors include a family history of Alzheimer's, smoking, a traumatic head injury, untreated depression as well as lifestyle conditions associated with heart disease such as obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. The WHO also lists drinking too much alcohol, being physically inactive and being socially isolated as risk factors for dementia. What are the signs and symptoms? One of the first and most common symptoms may be memory loss -- difficulty in remembering recent events or conversations and newly-learned information. This is not the occasional bout of forgetting that most of us may experience -- this form of memory loss is lasting. It may lead, over time, to patients having trouble finding the right words, asking questions over and over, putting familiar objects in unfamiliar places, getting lost in a previously well-known locations and forgetting faces and names. Other symptoms involve thinking and reasoning abilities as well as changes in speech, moods, personality and behaviour. These can include: confusion, difficulties in paying bills and managing finances, difficulties in day-to-day activities such as cooking or driving and poor judgement. Personality changes can include suspicion of others, mood swings, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal and anger or aggression. What is the prognosis? The rate of progression for Alzheimer's disease varies. In the later stages of the disease, a person may lose physical abilities, may need help with all activities, and may lost the ability to communicate. Some people may live several years after a diagnosis, while others may live for fewer years. The stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis and other factors of health may affect life expectancy. How is it treated? It is important to see a doctor if you are concerned about memory or other thinking skills or if you have these concerns about a family member. At present, there is no cure for Alzheimer's., however treatment can help manage symptoms and treat the progression of the disease. Early treatment is optimal to help preserve brain health. Medicines may be prescribed where necessary. This apart, medication may also be given for symptoms such as depression, hallucinations, agitation and mood changes. Opting for a healthy lifestyle including adequate exercise, well-balanced, nutritious meals, keeping up with hobbies and social activities, may all help. Creating a supportive and caring environment at home, one that is calm, structured, is also important to help improve well-being and the ability to function.
