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A cancer the patient is living on a airbnb He contracted a fatal infection after spending just four nights at the house while he was receiving chemotherapy at a nearby hospital, thanks to toxic mold In one of the home’s air conditioners, the man’s grieving relatives are arguing.
Mohammed Mustafa Ghafoor, 67, was severely immunocompromised due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, orAll“According to a more than $1 million wrongful death lawsuit filed last week by his widow, baby and adult son Imtiaz.
This disease is a blood cancer that starts in a person’s bone marrow and spreads rapidly without treatment. Five-year survival rate around 70 percentHowever, for someone suffering from ALL, exposure to “any fungus” [can be] Threatening to life,” the lawsuit says, explaining that Aspergillus, the specific mold reportedly present in the A/C unit, is especially dangerous for someone in Gafur’s condition.
The lawsuit claims that Ghafoor suffered from aggressive fungal sinusitis as a result, which led to his untimely death.
Lawyer Philip Koelsch representing the family said Independent That the Ghafoors have “suffered a tremendous loss, and the circumstances described in the petition speak for themselves.”
“Our company is shocked that the Airbnb property where Mr. Ghafoor stayed during his cancer treatment was found to be infested with mold – a dangerous condition that is often fatal for immunocompromised cancer patients,” Koelsch said.
“Losing a loved one is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the Ghafoor family,” an Airbnb spokesperson said in an email.
Ghafoor, A on July 19, 2024 Florida Resident, checked into the world famous MD Anderson Cancer Center To get a course in Houston Chemo for his leukemia, according to his family trialThat was initially filed in Texas state court and removed to federal court on November 26.
It said Imtiaz had booked a month-long stay in an Airbnb about a mile from the hospital so he and his mother could be close by while Ghafoor was there. The suit explains that the listing, a “comfortable” and “warm” second-floor condo in a luxury complex, seemed perfect for their needs, and Ghafoor would join them in a two-bed, two-bath apartment after his treatment.
Ghafoor spent about three weeks at MD Anderson, receiving lymphodepletion chemotherapy, Tecartus/CAR-T immunotherapy and cell infusions to treat his leukemia.
Ghafoor, who was “very frail and had a severely compromised immune system,” was discharged on August 8, 2024, and joined Baby and Imtiaz in an Airbnb the same day, sleeping with Baby in the unit’s primary bedroom, the lawsuit continues.
Chemo can be very debilitating All kinds of side effectsAnd on August 12, 2024, Ghafoor returned to MD Anderson complaining of headaches and eye pain, the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, he was soon sent home, but went back to MD Anderson on August 16, 2024, saying his headaches and eye pain had intensified.
“An MRI revealed that Mr. Ghafoor was suffering from aggressive fungal sinusitis,” the lawsuit states.
It added that Ghafoor was immediately readmitted to the hospital and the diagnosis was confirmed by a tissue culture test on August 20, 2024. aspergillus mold “Was the source of Mr Ghafoor’s fungal infection.” Additionally, the exact source of the mold itself remained unclear.
The lawsuit states that on September 4, 2024, Ghafoor’s health “took a tragic turn for the worse” and hospital staff found him unresponsive after suffering a heart attack. It said that by September 11, 2024, Ghafoor, who was now intubated, was not only suffering from an aggressive fungal infection, but also a bacterial infection. pancreasOngoing encephalopathy “with altered mental status,” and “difficulty in secretion clearance due to altered mental status.”
According to the lawsuit, Ghafoor’s condition continued to deteriorate and three days later he became seriously ill.
“Mr Ghafoor’s deterioration included ‘worsening of bacterial/fungal sinusitis’,” it insists.
The lawsuit states that on September 15, 2024, physicians treating Ghafoor told Imtiaz that his father’s condition was not improving, and advised the family to “let him pass peacefully”. Imtiaz then signed a do-not-resuscitate order and Ghafoor was transferred back to his home in Houston. orlando For hospice care.
He died on September 18, 2024.
“Significantly, Mr Ghafoor’s death certificate lists lymphoma And The lawsuit states the cause of her death was a fungal infection.
According to the suit, the origin of the fungal infection that hastened the end of Ghafoor’s life was still unclear — until last December, when Baby told Imtiaz that it “may have come from a fungus” in an Airbnb.
“More specifically, Baby told Imtiaz that the air conditioning in the master bedroom caused her husband to feel ill,” it added. “For this reason, Mr Ghafoor would often move the sides of the bed away from the AC vent at night.”
Imtiaz arranged it in March 2025 airbnb The lawsuit alleges that testing was conducted by a mold assessment expert, who found that “the exact type of mold MD Anderson found in their tissue culture testing” was present in the apartment.
An excerpt from the consultant’s report is included in the lawsuit, stating: “The vent in the master bedroom, which showed the highest amounts of Aspergillus/Penicillium, vented directly onto the bed located in the middle of the room where Mr. Ghafoor slept. Based on the scope of the severity of the mold it is my opinion that mold was present in the HVAC plenum and boot box when Mr. Ghafoor was living in the residence in August 2024. 8th From 16th to 16th.
According to Airbnb’s rules, the apartment had to be “free of health hazards (mold, pests, etc.),” the lawsuit states.[U]Under the legal theory of respondent superior, Airbnb is vicariously liable for the defendants’ injuries/damages [the host’s] Failure to maintain the unit in a safe condition during Ghafoor’s stay.”
It claims it allowed Airbnb to post “misrepresentations” about the condition of the apartment, calling it “luxury”, “cozy”, “cozy” and “warm”, when it was in fact infested with toxic mold.
“There is nothing comfortable or relaxing about the mold,” the lawsuit argues.
Airbnb has faced criticism in the past for other dangerous conditions in rental units. A lawsuit was filed against the company last year Three members of the same family drowned In an Airbnb by the lake in upstate New York.
A relative said, “We believe this tragedy could have been avoided if proper precautions had been taken.” Independent“And we are committed to ensuring that no other family has to endure what we endured.”
The Ghafoor family is now demanding a minimum of $1 million for, among other things, loss of companionship and society, the conscious suffering and mental anguish experienced by Ghafoor before his death, and funeral and burial expenses.
Family lawyer Koelsh told Independent“We look forward to seeking justice on behalf of Mr. Ghafoor’s widow and son.”