Canadian Train Quarantined after Passenger Dies
One woman is dead and 10 people are in hospital
This story has been updated: Canadian Train Passenger Death Update
A long distance train on a cross-Canada route between Vancouver and Toronto has been stopped and quarantined in Timmins, Ontario. One woman has died, 10 taken to hospital and the rest of the 260 passengers and 30 crew members are still on board. No one is being allowed on or off the train without protective gear.
Train QuarantinedDetails are still sketchy, but officials obviously aren't taking any chances if the illness is as contagious as SARS. The illnesses seem to have been contained to two cars, but everything has been locked down. Even the train station was evacuated and a nearby hospital put on alert.
"The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," said Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of the town of 380 about 100 kilometres southwest of Timmins told CP News.
Police have confirmed that woman who died was in her 60s. She had joined a small group tour in Jasper, Alberta, and fell ill this morning. The additional 10 people who are sick are also part of this group, Ontario Provincial Police Constable Marc Depatie told AFP News. "We don't know if the element is viral or bacterial or a case of food poisoning."
It sounds like they suspect something a lot more serious than under-cooked chicken.
"The rumours are flying, people are talking about SARS, nobody knows what's going on," Carol Woodhouse, an employee at the bunkhouse where train crews eat and rest told the Globe and Mail. "Usually we only have two policemen here, now I think we've got 20."
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