A Hull woman is fighting for her life after contracting Legionnaires’ disease while on holiday on the Mediterranean island of Crete.
The niece of Donna Jobling, 57, of West Hull, said her aunt is in intensive care at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion after becoming ill on an all-inclusive holiday with husband Sidney and friends Paula and Nicolas Mason.
The first few days of the £1,500-per-couple holiday were enjoyable, but on June 5, Donna fell ill before suffering from a chest infection and becoming seriously ill two days later.
On June 11, doctors at the hospital put Donna into an induced coma. Tests confirmed she had Legionnaires’ disease brought on by Legionella pneumophila, her niece, Claire, told Hull Live.
The infection triggered acute respiratory failure and pneumonia, her family said.
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Legionnaires’ disease is most commonly contracted through inhaling water droplets from contaminated air conditioning systems.
Claire, 42, flew out to Crete as soon as she heard how poorly Donna was, but later returned to Hull to obtain documents to prove Donna has insurance.
Claire, a mum of six, said: ‘We are all devastated and beside ourselves. We were told it was touch and go whether she would survive. We are all praying for her. She is stable but under constant watch.’
The devoted niece said her aunt is like a mother to everyone, and the family had visited Crete often when they were younger.
‘It used to be our go-to holiday destination, and we went as a whole family. It is beautiful, the weather is great, and the food is fantastic,’ Claire remembered.
She said Donna has complex medical conditions, including epilepsy. Claire said Donna is being well cared for and the staff brush her hair.
Rules in the intensive care unit mean family gets only 30 minutes to visit daily, but Claire said her aunt is being well looked after.
What is Legionnaires’ diease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially very serious lung infection which people can catch if they breathe in tiny droplets of water which contain bacteria that causes the illness.
People aged over 50, smokers and those with chronic lung conditions or who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of developing the disease.
It is usually caught from things such as air conditioning systems, hot tubs and humidifiers, in places like offices, hotels or hospitals where the bacteria have got into the water supply.
Early signs of the rare Legionnaires’ disease include ‘flu-like’ symptoms, such as a dry cough and fever, which can develop into pneumonia.
Around 90% of people exposed to Legionella bacteria do not experience symptoms.
But up to 15% of those who do become ill can suffer from severe disease.
Friend Paula, 52, told Hull Live how she and Donna’s husbands booked the holiday to Crete as a surprise, and the illness came out of ‘nowhere’.
‘She has a lot of health problems anyway. But she became seriously ill and the doctor said she had to be taken to the hospital, where they put her in an induced coma in the intensive care unit.’
The source of the Legionnaires’ Disease has not yet been identified, but as a precaution, Easyjet Holidays, with whom the couples travelled, have moved other customers out of the hotel they were staying in.
A spokesperson for the company said: ‘We’re so sorry to hear that Ms Jobling is unwell, and we’re continuing to support her and her family in every way we can.
‘As soon as we were made aware of reports of illness, we immediately took action and contacted customers who were already staying in the hotel, or due to travel in the next four weeks, to provide alternative hotel options.
‘We’ve also been in touch with customers who recently returned home from this hotel, to inform them of necessary guidance. Our customers’ safety and well-being is our top priority, and we’ll continue to do all we can to support them.’
It is understood that the hotel is currently working with local health authorities on the island.
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