One dead, 280 quarantined on Canadian train

TORONTO/OTTAWA (Reuters) - One person died and about 280 were placed in quarantine aboard a cross-Canada train on Friday after a mystery illness caused violent flu-like symptoms.

Police spokesman Marc Depatie told CTV television that seven passengers who boarded the VIA Rail train in the Rocky Mountain resort of Jasper, Alberta, had fallen ill, and one, a 60-year-old woman, had died. Another passenger had been airlifted to hospital.

"One person has been determined to be deceased. We are awaiting hazmat officials...to attend the scene and board the train to determine the exact cause of what has transpired," he said.

"Seven persons are displaying symptoms of either flu or flu-like conditions. Beyond that, no other person on the train that we're aware of is experiencing any medical discomfort."

Officials said the Toronto-bound train was being held in quarantine in the small northern Ontario community of Foleyet, and nobody except emergency personnel was allowed aboard.

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TORONTO/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian health officials said on Friday that a death and reported outbreak of flu-like symptoms aboard a cross-Canada train were not due to an infectious disease and in fact were likely not related at all.

About 290 passengers and crew aboard the Vancouver-Toronto train were still being held in quarantine near the tiny northern Ontario town of Foleyet, but would likely be able to continue their journey later on Friday, Ontario's top medical official told a news conference.

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Amraann said:

Out of 290 people for 7 to have flu like symptoms is probably statistically normal.

Sounds like mass hysteria.

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