Canadian train quarantined after woman dies on board

[Cat]

But something to watch, as much for the authorities' reactions as for the illness results:

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

MSNBC.com

 

Train quarantined in Ontario with mystery illness

 

By ROB GILLIES

Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press

updated 2:16 p.m. ET, Fri., May. 9, 2008

 

TORONTO - Canadian authorities quarantined a train in northern Ontario Friday after a woman died and several other people came down with an undetermined illness.

 

Officials were keeping passengers from leaving the train, said Steve Trinier, the director of ambulance services in the area. The train was being held in the station in the town of Foleyet, 500 miles northwest of Toronto. The station was evacuated.

 

As many as 10 people were ill with flu-like symptoms. The illnesses appeared to be contained to two cars on the train of 269 passengers and 30 crew members. One person was taken to hospital and is in stable condition, Trinier said.

 

The cross country Via passenger train was headed from Vancouver to Toronto when emergency officials received a call Friday morning and met the train in Foleyet.

 

Police constable Marc Depatie told CBC TV there were reports that the woman who died was in her 60s and already had flulike symptoms when she boarded the train with a group of tourists in Jasper, Alberta. Seven other members of her party were experiencing similar but not extreme symptoms, he said.

 

Trinier said authorities did not know the cause of the illnesses yet. "There's certainly a possibility of something as simple as food poisoning and also an environmental toxin of some sort," Trinier said.

 

Health officials were on the alert for norovirus, though they said that has not been identified as the cause. Noroviruses cause stomach flu and can be caught through contact with infected people or by touching or ingesting contaminated items.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24541444/

 

 

[brightblessings5]

Yikes! I'd be interested in knowing not only the outcome, but how the passengers are handling being quarantined. Are they being given info (doubtful) or are the passengers on the train cars not yet affected being kept in the dark?

[cookiejar]

Canadian train quarantined after woman dies on board

 

Story Highlights

10 others reported sick aboard train in northern Ontario

No one allowed to board train without protective gear

Train was traveling from Vancouver to Toronto

230 passengers and 30 crew aboard

 

 

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- A passenger train was placed under quarantine Friday in northern Ontario after an undetermined illness left one woman dead and at least 10 other people sick.

 

Authorities said the train was carrying 230 passengers and 30 crew members. Police ordered the train station evacuated in the tiny hamlet of Foleyet.

 

The outbreak appeared to be contained to two cars on the train, authorities said.

 

The cross-country Via Rail passenger train was en route from Vancouver to Toronto. Emergency personnel received a call Friday morning and the train was met at the station in Foleyet, about 500 miles (800 kilometers) northwest of Toronto.

 

Police said that as many as 10 people are ill with flu-like symptoms, and at least one person was airlifted to a local hospital. No one was being allowed on board the train without protective gear.

 

Steve Trinier, the local director of ambulance services, told The Associated Press that the cause of the outbreak had not been determined yet. He said one person had been taken to a hospital and is in stable condition.

 

"It could be something of the nature of SARS, but that doesn't appear to be the case given that the person in hospital now is stable," Trinier said. "There's certainly a possibility of something as simple as food poisoning and also an environmental toxin of some sort."

 

Trinier said that authorities are restricting passengers from leaving the train until they know more. A doctor is onboard.

 

Police Const. Marc Depatie told CBC-TV there were unconfirmed reports that the woman who died had flulike symptoms when she boarded the train with a group of tourists in Jasper, Alberta. He said that seven other members of her party are experiencing similar but not extreme flu-like symptoms.

 

Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of Foleyet, said the scene was chaotic as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.

 

"The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," she said. "They've got the train quarantined. They're trying to isolate what it is."

 

A spokeswoman for Via Rail said the train departed Vancouver three days ago and had not reported any problems before Friday.

 

Health care workers in Jasper are on alert for anyone showing up at local facilities with symptoms of norovirus, Aspen Regional Health Authority spokesman Scott Donaldson said.

 

"We're monitoring the situation," Donaldson said. "We haven't seen anybody with signs of norovirus."

 

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the stomach flu, or gastroenteritis. They also are sometimes called Norwalk-like viruses, and are highly contagious. Most people get better after a day or two.

 

In recent years, cruise ships have become famous norovirus carriers, with several large outbreaks grabbing headlines.

 

The Public Health Agency of Canada says deaths have occurred in long-term health care facilities during norovirus outbreaks, but it is difficult to say to what extent the norovirus caused death in already frail or sick people

 

[Cat]

??? I thought my merged post would be at the END of yours, cookie! The time of post probably messed it up.

 

ANYWAY...

 

 

**Great minds think alike.**

 

 

 

 

[Jeepers]

Great minds indeed. I was just reading about it and came here to post too. Here are the links I was reading;

 

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_22540.aspx

http://www.680news.com/news/topstory/artic...509_115325_1852

[Becca_Anne]

Looks like they are now saying she died of something non contagious?

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/...rain/index.html

 

(CNN) -- A Canadian train quarantined after a passenger died Thursday will soon be on its way again, Ontario's top medical officer told reporters.

 

Dr. David Williams said the woman who died did not have an infectious disease, nor did another woman who was airlifted to Timmins and District Hospital in Timmins, Ontario.

 

Five other passengers who complained of feeling sick have been isolated aboard the train, where they are being assessed, Williams said. The death and the illnesses were unrelated, he said.

 

When the assessments are complete, he said, the train will resume its journey.

 

The train, carrying 264 passengers and 30 crew, was en route from Vancouver to Toronto when it was halted and quarantined in northern Ontario after the passenger died, a spokeswoman for VIA Rail said.

 

VIA Rail Train Number 2 was stopped "for medical reasons" in Foleyet, Ontario, said rail spokeswoman Ashley Doyle.

 

The Associated Press reported that Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of Foleyet, said the scene was chaotic. "The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," she said. "They've got the train quarantined. They're trying to isolate what it is."

 

A spokesman for Canadian National Railway, which owns the tracks, said the company arranged for the train to be halted after receiving a request from VIA Rail Thursday morning.

 

VIA Rail issued a telephone number for anyone seeking information about the passengers: 877-747-0707.

 

[KimMC]

Yes dh told me about that early yesterday afternoon. From what our local news up here has said, they don't believe the woman that died and the other sick people had the same illness. Not sure if I really believe them on that...But anyway by late afternoon or evening they sent the train on it's way to Toronto, after "screening" everyone for illness symptoms.