A BRITISH tourist is fighting for her life after catching a deadly disease while on an all-inclusive holiday in Greece.
Donna Jobling, 57, from west Hull, came down with Legionnaires’ disease on the island of Crete, and is in a coma in intensive care.
MEN MediaDonna Jobling, 57, of west Hull, is fighting for her life in hospital[/caption]
FacebookDonna was on holiday with her husband Sidney and two other friends[/caption]
GettyThe group was enjoying an all-inclusive break on the Greek island of Crete[/caption]
She is receiving urgent treatment at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion after falling ill just days into the trip.
Donna was holidaying with her husband Sidney and friends Paula and Nicolas Mason, also of Hull.
The group had been enjoying a £1,500-per-couple all-inclusive trip when Donna fell ill.
She developed a chest infection on June 5 and needed lots of rest, before falling seriously ill two days later.
Donna, who suffers from “complex” medical conditions including epilepsy, was taken to hospital on June 11 and doctors put her in an induced coma.
Tests confirmed she had contracted Legionnaires’ disease, which triggered acute respiratory failure and pneumonia.
An emergency alert was issued on the island by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control following the diagnosis urging local hotels to be vigilant in treating their water systems – often the source of the disease.
Tests since carried out around the island have identified an alarming spike in the Legionella bacteria.
Donna’s “devastated” family has flown out to be by her side.
Her niece Claire, 42, has been back-and-forth between Crete and Hull.
She is currently in East Yorkshire to fetch Donna’s insurance documents before flying back out.
The niece told Hull Live: “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.”
Claire said that Crete is a favourite spot among the family and they all have “happy memories” of breaks there.
She is only allowed to spend 30 minutes at a time with her aunt due to “strict” intensive care rules.
Paula and Nicolas have returned to the UK after Claire got the terrifying diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease?
These are the symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease you should watch out for:
A cough
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
A high temperature
Flu-like symptoms
Paula, 52, revealed the holiday was booked as a surprise by Nicolas and Donna’s husband, and that the start of the holiday had been “lovely”.
“Then it came out from nowhere,” she said.
Legionnaires’ is often contracted by inhaling water droplets from contaminated air conditioning systems.
The couple was travelling with Easyjet Holidays who have moved other customers out of the hotel.
A spokesperson for the company told The Sun: “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.”
At a meeting with European health officials, the regional governor George Pitsoulis said: “We all have to be vigilant. We need to keep up the checks and hoteliers need to set the right water temperature and do good chlorination.
“So we will implement the right prevention measures.”
The Greek Ministry of Health sent a notification round the island marked “Extremely Urgent” on June 16.
It said it wanted to “raise awareness among all those involved in monitoring the quality of water for human consumption especially with regard to Legionella […] to protect the public”.
Donna has been put in an induced comaFacebook
How to stay safe from Legionnaires’ disease on holiday
Heading off on a holiday? Here’s how to dodge Legionnaires’ disease with some handy advice from the NHS:
Pick accommodation with good reviews on cleanliness, especially for water facilities like pools and hot tubs. It’s worth checking if they follow strict water maintenance practices.
When you first arrive, run the hot water in your shower for a few minutes to flush out any stagnant water where bacteria might be hiding.
Sticking to bottled water, especially in places where the water quality is questionable. And if you’re not sure about the ice, better to skip it!
If you start feeling unwell with symptoms like a cough, fever, or shortness of breath after using hotel facilities, don’t ignore it. Seek medical help quickly.
Don’t hesitate to ask your hotel about their water system maintenance. A little peace of mind goes a long way in keeping your holiday stress-free!