Sudden Death and Flu-Like Outbreak on Canadian Train

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Death On Toronto-Bound Via Rail Train
Friday May 9, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

A woman has died and 10 other passengers are 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 and appears to be in her 60s. It's not known if she was travelling with family.

There were 260 passengers and 30 crewmembers on board the train when it stopped in Foleyet. It's now quarantined at a CN Rail station.

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. There is a doctor on board.

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. One person was taken by air ambulance.

"The Timmins District Hospital is a regional hospital, and I'm confident they can handle it," Nichols allowed.

The tiny town - population 380- is coping with a flurry of activity.

"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."

However, the OPP is confident Foleyet can cope. "We're implementing our emergency action plan," Depatie explained. "So that if there is a need for evacuation or if there's a need to contain these persons on the long-term basis, we're able to do that efficiently."

Passengers are helping out police with their investigation.

"We have their cooperation at present. We appreciate that very much," Depatie said. The OPP has not yet boarded the train, as the origin of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

"From an OPP perspective, all sudden deaths are deemed to be suspicious in nature until we determine the root cause," Depatie outlined. "So with that in mind, our crime unit is at the scene taking preliminary information down so we can perform an investigation of the event."

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.

Watch CityNews at Five and Six for the full story.

If you know someone on board, call 1-888-842-7245.

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

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Train Death And Series Of Illnesses Unrelated Says Chief Medical Officer Of Health
Friday May 9, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

What initially looked to be a frightening infectious disease outbreak that led to the death of one woman aboard a Via Rail train turned out to be a remarkable series of unconnected coincidences, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, explained during a Friday afternoon press conference.

The elderly woman died during the train ride from Vancouver to Toronto, but health officials say she likely didn't have an infectious disease. Six other passengers also fell ill, with the most serious being rushed to hospital with a respiratory illness of some sort. Officials, however, believe that passenger was suffering from a pre-existing condition, and the five others who were reportedly ill with flu-like symptoms were all determined to have been feeling sick before they boarded the train.

Williams says the death and illnesses seemed to "a confluence of two or three events" and were unrelated.

The train was initially halted in the northern Ontario hamlet of Foleyet at about 8:30 Friday morning. It was on day three of a trip from Vancouver to Toronto and was carrying about 264 passengers and 30 crew members.

"One of the passengers died suddenly while onboard the train," Williams confirmed. "While the cause of death continues to be under investigation, it has been determined that the deceased did most likely not have an infectious disease."

"Another passenger was airlifted to the Timmins area hospital. That passenger underwent medical assessment and it has been determined that person also does not have infectious disease. Another five passengers who also felt ill were isolated and assessed onboard the train."

"Their symptoms were determined to be minor, with no high temperature or breathlessness indicated, and they're in stable condition. The origins of the illness that caused the passenger death is unknown at this time."

"They actually were not connected, as we found out."

Const. Marc Depatie of the Foleyet OPP said that the female passenger was picked up in Jasper, Alberta with a tour group and appears to be in her 60s. It's not known if she was travelling with family.

"The woman who had expired made her way onto the train with pre-existing health issues," Const Depatie explained, but it's not yet known what caused her death. There was a doctor on board the train who attempted to treat her. After she died, he focused on other passengers with the mystery symptoms.

Health Canada and the Ministry of Health are continuing to monitor the situation, but it's expected that the train will continue its journey sometime Friday evening.

The storm of media attention was somewhat shocking for residents of the small Ontario town.

"The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," said Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of the town.

Residents like 53-year-old Leo DesRochers, stopped by to get a closer look.

"It's creating quite a bit of excitement, it's really rolling in here," he said.

"There's lots of people standing around, lots of police, and they're handling it with white gloves. They're being pretty careful about it, saying we don't know what it is but we're being really cautious about it."

Watch CityNews at Five and Six for the full story.

If you know someone on board, call 1-877-747-0707. The number was updated Friday afternoon.

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