Train Finally En Route To Toronto After Coincidental Illness Scare

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 ailment 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 be “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 is 60 years of age. 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 the long day onboard that train for the hundreds of remaining passengers just got a lot longer. It’s finally en route to Toronto but isn’t expected to reach its intended destination until 8am Saturday morning. It was supposed to arrive at 7:30pm Friday night.

Why is it taking so long? “There is quite a bit of congestion out on the track, due to the fact that all rail traffic was stopped today,” explains spokesperson Catherine Kaloutsky. “But as the train is en route, all passengers are in good spirits, we have been keeping them informed and keeping them comfortable during the day.”

VIA says passengers were given a free dinner and will get a breakfast without charge before the train hits Union Station, to thank them for their patience. Kaloutsky insists it was a major inconvenience but that all the emergency protocols worked just as they originally planned them.

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.”

If you know someone on board, call 1-877-747-0707. 

Extreme safety measures a necessary precaution: doctors

Photo courtesy Sun Media Corp.