Gene Hackman’s wife died from rare infectious disease around a week before the actor died, medical investigators have said.

The couple were found dead in their New Mexico home on 26 February, along with one of their pet dogs. Police have previously said there were no apparent signs of foul play.

At a press conference on Friday, chief medical investigator, doctor Heather Jarrell, gave an update on the results of post-mortem investigations carried out following their deaths.

Doctor Jarrell said that Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease. There were no signs of trauma and the death was a result of natural causes, she said.

The doctor said Arakawa likely died on 11 February, the date she was last known to have left the house.

She said Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and died from heart disease, with data from his pacemaker last registering on 18 February.

Due to his Alzheimer’s, “it’s quite possible [Hackman] was not aware that [his wife] was deceased,” Dr Jarrell added.

Hantavirus is a rare disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

Hackman, who was widely respected as one of the greatest actors of his generation, was a five-time Oscar nominee who won the best actor in a leading role for The French Connection in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven two decades later.

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