Detroit Delta Air worker diagnosed with Legionnaires'

A Detroit employee for Delta Air Lines tested positive for Legionnaires' disease and was hospitalized last week.

The employee serves in a "back-office role" and has no interaction with customers, Delta said.

The source of the disease is unclear and a statement from Delta said the employee's office and its air ducts have been closed as a precaution and will be cleaned and disinfected.

The company said a professional health, safety and environmental firm was called in to inspect the work space and surrounding area. Delta said it is also in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and working closely with the local county health department, which has jurisdiction over the case.

So far, Delta has not been made aware of any additional employees with Legionnaires' symptoms.

"We are in contact with the employee and will continue to support this member of the Delta family through recovery," a statement from Delta said. "The health and safety of our customers and employees is our top priority."

Legionnaires' is a form of pneumonia spread through inhalation of water droplets that contain the bacteria, not through person-to-person contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Legionnaires' is a form of pneumonia. Symptoms typically begin two to 10 days after exposure and can include cough, fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches.

The disease requires treatment with antibiotics and most cases can be treated successfully. Around 1 in 10 people who get Legionnaires' disease will die from the infection, according to the CDC.