Our holiday of a lifetime turned into a living hell after catching silent killer bug from a hot tub
PAMELA Farman's holiday to Florida was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.
However, the mum said her life has not been the same since the break, after she believes she caught a silent killer bug from a hot tub.
The 75-year-old contracted dangerous Legionnaires' disease, an often fatal form of pneumonia caused by bacteria infecting the lungs.
It's known as a silent killer as symptoms can often be mistaken for a cough.
Doctors said she is "lucky to be alive" after her lungs became "severely damaged" by the bacterial infection.
Now, the family have slammed the "awful" customer service received by Airbnb after raising fears that a hot tub was the source of the bug, that left Pamela in hospital for weeks.
read more on Legionnaires' disease
Pamela arrived with her husband and daughter in Florida for a vacation in May 2022.
The family were then ferried between three different Airbnb villas after they said the first two were dirty with algae growing in the pools.
They finally settled on a third location, but after a few days, Pamela started to develop a cough and had difficulty breathing.
She was rushed to hospital where she remained for a week before flying home.
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She then had to spend a further four days in hospital in the UK.
According to the family, the holiday accommodation company initially refused to accept any responsibility or offer a refund.
Legionnaires' disease is often caught in hotels, pools, hospitals and office air conditioners with an infected water supply, becoming much riskier for people over the age of 45.
The mum said: "The Legionnaires' disease has stolen the joy of living from me.
"Because of my trouble breathing and extreme fatigue as a result of the disease, I dread that I may never get back to the way I was prior to staying at the Airbnb.
"I can no longer exercise, and trying to go for a walk is a nightmare."
She now struggles to do daily tasks, suffering from fatigue similar to severe long-Covid.
The symptoms of Legionnaires' disease you must know
Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection you can get from inhaling droplets of water from things like air conditioning or hot tubs, the NHS states.
It's uncommon but can be serious, guidance states.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include:
- a cough
- difficulty breathing
- chest pain
- a high temperature
- flu-like symptoms
You should call 111 if you:
- you cannot breathe properly
- you have chest pain
- you feel like you have severe flu
If needed, they will be able to arrange a call with a nurse or doctor
The long-term effects, which she has lived with for nine months, have also stopped her from accessing treatment for her osteoporosis which she has been waiting for for over two years.
Pamela's daughter Lindsay Martin said the customer service from Airbnb has been 'awful'.
"It was incredibly frustrating and they initially refused to accept responsibility or offer us a refund.
"It wasn't about the money, we didn't want anyone else to become ill and go through this - people can die from it.
"Airbnb should take more responsibility for how the hosts maintain their properties."
The family are now in the process of filing a lawsuit against the company.
Thomas Scolaro from US-based legal firm Feesfield Scolaro representing Pamela said: "If Airbnb's are unregulated there is no uniformity in cleaning policies.
"We all know if we stay in a hotel or resort there are expectations that rooms are cleaned on a regular schedule.
"There is no policy or standard in the Airbnb industry- it's the wild west.
"Folks like Ms Farman are unfortunate victims of lax oversight and unscrupulous practices."
He added: "Airbnb needs to do better.
";It rents out homes and advertises them as safe, secure, and sanitary.
"Pamala Farman is living proof that Airbnb fails to live up to its own promises.
"A wonderful woman has now contracted Legionnaires' disease because Airbnb did not do its job.
"She is in the fight of her life against this deadly bacterium all because Airbnb gives lip service to safety.
"We are going to insist that it is held accountable to Ms Farman."
A spokesman for Airbnb said: "The safety of our community is our priority.
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"We were concerned to learn about this, and are in contact with the guest to support them as we investigate this matter."
The company said it holds hosts to "high standards" and works with safety experts around the world to ensure guests' safety."