A tourist says she nearly died after allegedly contracting Legionnaires' disease from an Airbnb hot tub.
Pamela Farman, 75, and her family were vacationing in the sunshine state of Florida in May 2022 when she suddenly struggled to breathe.
The British woman was rushed to a hospital where doctors found her lungs were severely damaged because of the bacterial infection, to the extent that doctors told her she was "lucky to be alive".
Ms Farman's family has criticised Airbnb's poor customer service after blaming one of their hot tubs for her hospitalisation, and they have filed a lawsuit against the company.
The retired mum from Somerleyton, Suffolk, had to stay in the hospital for weeks and and she says she now struggles to maintain her old lifestyle.
Ms Farman said: "The Legionnaires’ disease has stolen the joy of living from me. I can no longer exercise, and trying to go for a walk is a nightmare.
"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."
Legionnaires' disease is commonly transmitted through infected water sources in hotels, pools, hospitals, and office air conditioners, and it is particularly risky for those over 45 years old.
Ms Farman says her holiday, with her husband and daughter, quickly turned sour when they had to move between three different Airbnb villas due to the first two being dirty with algae-infested pools.
After a brief stay at the third accommodation, Ms Farman says she started experiencing a cough and difficulty breathing.
She was immediately taken to the hospital, where she had to spend a week before flying back to the UK.
She had to spend another four days in the hospital upon her return.
Since then, Ms Farman claims she has been struggling with severe symptoms that resemble those of long-Covid, such as fatigue.
Ms Farman's daughter, Lindsay Martin, called on Airbnb to take more responsibility for how hosts maintain their properties.
She said: "Their customer service was awful and we spent hours communicating with them on an online chat.
"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."
Thomas Scolaro, from US-based legal firm Feesfield Scolaro representing Ms Farman, 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."
In a statement, Airbnb said: "The safety of our community is our priority and we were concerned to learn about this matter. We have contacted the guest to support them, and these listings remain suspended while we investigate."
The company claimed that they have reached out to Ms Farman to provide further support.
According to Airbnb, the accommodation listing where Ms Farman got sick was suspended, and the family has been fully refunded for their stay.
The company added (sic): "We hold Hosts on Airbnb to high standards and work with safety experts around the world to provide Hosts with information on home safety.
"Airbnb’s 5-step cleaning process is a set of cleaning practices all Hosts are required to follow between guest stays, in addition to local laws and guidelines.
"The listings have been suspended, and users and listings that do not adhere to our policies and standards may be subject to suspension or removal."
