Mystery illness stops train in northern Ontario

news wanted:

I think this is an important story and would benefit from other NowPublic contributors working on it. I've flagged it as News Wanted and invite others in relevant locations to look for more evidence.

Via Reuters & Vancouver Sun Combined

The train left Vancouver on Tuesday with its final stop 8 pm tonight in Toronto.

 The reports state the train has 290 people on board (which conflicts – I do not know if this includes Crew and passengers)

It is currently stopped in Foleyet (pop. 350 People) a small town southwest of Timmins and about 350 kilometres north of Sudbury.. The train called No. 2 or known as the Canadian, which also had or has stops in Sudbury Junction, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Kamloops, B.C.

Via Bloomberg (By Joe Schneider and Chris Dolmetsch)

The train, carrying about 260 passengers and 30 crew members, was eastbound from Vancouver and had made a regular stop in Foleyet, Ontario, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Timmins.

The woman, who was in her 60s, had boarded in Jasper as part of a tour group, and there were reports that she had flu- like symptoms when she got on the train, the CBC reported, citing Ontario Provincial Police Constable Marc Depatie.

Seven other members of the group also reported having flu- like symptoms, the CBC said, citing Depatie. One person was airlifted to Timmins and District Hospital in stable condition, said spokeswoman Kali Storring.

Checking Train Route: Clement was briefed and has directed his officials to work with provincial, regional and local authorities, both in Foleyet and all points along the train route, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement.

Public Health Agency officials referred all other inquiries to the provincial ministry of health.

Ontario Health Ministry officials didn't respond to requests for comment. The Ontario Provincial Police said a statement will be issued soon and media spokespeople weren't taking phone calls.

Rachel you're welcome.

Update 2:13:35 PM MST Via CNN

QUARANTINE OVER - train to start rolling soon, can resume. The other five individual that where Ill are not related to the women whom Died.

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.

Update 1:45:33 PM MST Via: Bloomberg & Globe and Mail

The woman, who was in her 60s that died had boarded in Jasper, Alberta, as part of a tour group, and there were reports that she had flu-like symptoms when she got on (boarded) the train. The other individuals with the quarantine are 6 people (not 7) at present, of these 1 was airlifted and 5 remain on the train.

"We had one passenger airlifted to Timmins and District Hospital and that patient has been assessed and the condition is not serious,'' Health Ministry spokesman Mark Nesbitt said in a telephone interview. We have five passengers, who felt ill and have been isolated and are in stable condition and in good spirits, he said. The doctor aboard the train who is treating these passengers is “not concerned for their immediate health,” he added. These passengers are in a separate car, isolated from others. He said there is no need to evacuate anyone from the immediate area surrounding the train. 

Lab tests are being conducted in Sudbury, Ontario, which is 183 miles south of Timmins, to determine the cause of the illnesses, Nesbitt said.

Constable Marc Depatie said in an interview that officials were still trying to determine what caused the illnesses on the train and how they are linked to the fatality.

“We don't know if the element is viral or bacterial or a case of food poisoning.”

Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, said officials had been alerted to possible concerns, but it wasn't clear if any health threat existed in B.C. or Alberta. “We're on standby - As soon as we get more information we'll know if there is anything we have to do here,” she said.

Perry Kendall, provincial health officer for B.C., said this morning that health officials have been looking for signs of disease activity in the communities where the train stopped en route. “We've also been in contact with the chief medical officer of health for Alberta because the train stopped in Jasper and they aren't aware of any unusual illness activity in Alberta either.”

good stuff:

Great updates -- thanks for staying with this story.

Via: thestar.com

No fear of outbreak

"There is no evidence to support an outbreak of infectious disease on the train," Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, told a news conference at Queen's Park today.

 The deceased woman "did most likely not have an infectious disease." Williams stated

The other female passenger taken to hospital in Timmins was suffering
from a shortness of breath but had "no fever, no cough." Tests showed a
normal white blood cell count and ruled out influenza and "a number of
infectious diseases"

The other passengers are "not at risk from contact with the deceased passenger" and the train was expected to continue its journey to Toronto tonight after other passengers are screened as a precaution,  Stated Williams.

None of the cases appear connected

Five other passengers feeling ill on the train had "mild" respiratory viruses when they boarded in Jasper several days ago, with one on antibiotics for "a sinus-type infection," Williams said.

WAS THE RESPONSE NECESSARY, YES - Williams stated:

"In retrospect, someone could say maybe it was overdone but say there
was a real problem then it certainly would have been appropriate. And
it was appropriate," "I'm satisfied the appropriate steps were taken. People did it in a
calm, collected way and went about their duties and responsibilities
accordingly."he said.

Williams said he is not worried the response to the train illnesses was out of proportion, given the fears of outbreaks that linger in the post-SARS era.

My personal opinion on this story and the events of today:

No - I would not have wanted to be on that train because of the quarantine, lets face it - I don't believe anyone would.

On the odd chance I was in these circumstances today, I would take Canada over any other place in the world. Yes, without question, any day, any time, after this day for that fact. The response was well organized, orchestrated and efficient in speed and timing with everything anyone could ask for at their disposal. Great job to everyone involved in this event today and thank you for being there to protect the general health of everyone else.

Everyone: you will start to hear people saying; that it was way over board and it has started.

 Well I say go to "$)*@" - It is "way better" to be safe and get control of something like this, then say oh well and have a greater, bigger problem where there is no control over how far it could go in the world - I am being reminded daily of how close this world is tied together with all the means of transportation we have and a small window of a large scale outbreak worldwide getting out of control. Well so far on this day, we can all breath a little easier that their our people like the ones today - that put them self's before others and went to protect all others without thought, only to protect the welfare of others.

Namaste to all those that made this day a safe one,

Everchanging

p.s. When I say Namaste to others, it means: I respect you for who you are...

good stuff:

mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff. -- the updates to the story were excellent as well.

good stuff:

mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff.