A woman has died and 10 more in hospital after a flu-like outbreak on board a Via Rail train. The train, travelling from Vancouver to Toronto, is now under quarantine near Timmins.Marc Depatie of the Foleyet OPP said that the female passenger was picked up in Jasper, Alberta with a tour group. Sgt Laura Nichols OPP said that she was called by CN at 8:35am Friday. "There was one person who had vital signs absent and five other people that were sick with flu-like symptoms," she reported.
That number quickly increased to ten, and all were taken to Timmins and District Hospital. "The Timmins District Hospital is a regional hospital, and I'm confident they can handle it," Nichols allowed.
The train is stopped in Foleyet. "The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," said Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of the town. "They've got the train quarantined. They're trying to isolate what it is."
There were 260 passengers and 30 crewmembers on board the train. Emergency crews in full protective gear searched the affected cars. It's believed, but not certain, that the outbreak is confined to only two cars. No one except emergency personnel is allowed on or off the trains.
If you're looking for a relative or friend, Nichols confirms that an incident commander is en route. "He'll be working with local officials to try and get some processes together to help out those people, to get in contact," she says.
The cause of the outbreak has not yet been determined. It could be biological, chemical, or food-related. Health Canada has also been called in.
Scared. Very scared.