An expert has revealed the one thing that could have saved Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa from hantavirus, the rare but dangerous rat-borne disease that took her life. On Friday, experts announced that the Hawaiian pianist likely died on February 11 from the disease, which is spread through infected rodent droppings.

Gene is believed to have died one week later from heart failure and complications from Alzheimer’s disease on an empty stomach. Authorities said that the actor was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and therefore may have been unaware that his wife was dead. Their bodies were discovered at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26 when maintenance and security workers alerted police.

Health experts warn that hantavirus can cause flu-like symptoms, and in severe cases, the illness can develop into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which is what officials say caused Betsy’s death at age 65.

There is no treatment for hantavirus, but a doctor has revealed the one thing that could have saved Betsy’s life.

Dr Jeffrey Klausner said that HPS kills around one in three of its patients, but Betsy had a higher chance of survival if she had been quickly taken to hospital.

He told TMZ: “Unfortunately, there is no treatment for hantavirus so it’s really just early diagnosis and supportive care. So if someone was suspected of having hantavirus, or just suspected of having severe pneumonia – I mean it’s really very similar to having a severe pneumonia – if you go to the hospital, you’re gonna be provided with oxygen.

“If you’re not able to breathe on your own, you may be supported with mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, and some people who get that early type of intervention can survive and go on to recovery from hantavirus.”

Dr Klausner shared an insight into what Betsy’s final days may have been like. He said that she may have struggled with her symptoms for several days, including shortness of breath, lightheadedness and dizziness. He concluded: “And for whatever reasons she did not pursue additional medical attention.”

Authorities are piecing together Betsy’s final moments before her death. Santa Fe County Adan Mendoza said at a press conference on Friday that Betsy picked up their dog Xena, who was later found dead along with the couple, from the vets on February 9.

Her car was seen on CCTV footage at about 4.54pm on February 11, and the remote control clicker that is assigned to her and her vehicle was used to enter the subdivision to gain access to the gated community, the sheriff added.

He said: “At 5.15pm, numerous emails were unopened on her computer on February 11. There was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after February 11.”

Tests on Hackman’s pacemaker previously showed that he was alive on February 17 when a “last event” was recorded, nine days before his body and his wife’s were discovered.