Commentary
Upper Respiratory Illness in Tour Group from Jasper Alberta
Recombinomics Commentary 19:17
May 9, 2008
Marc Depatie told CBC News that "unconfirmed reports" suggest the woman who died was ill when she boarded the train as part of a tour group in Jasper, Alta. She was reportedly in her 60s.
He said other people on the four-day rail journey from Vancouver to Toronto have also reported "similar but not extreme" flu-like symptoms and that one other passenger was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Timmins, Ont. Other reports said 10 passengers had been taken to hospital. There is a doctor on the train who is providing medical assistance.
Only fire and ambulance officials in full protective gear are being allowed on and off the train.
CN Rail reported the incident to police at 8:30 a.m., saying the woman had respiratory problems and that she showed no vital signs.
The passenger train stopped about 40 kilometres west of the town of Foleyet.
The above comments provide more detail on the respiratory illness linked to a tour group traveling by train in Canada. Media reports have suggested the illness may be influenza and the patient airlifted from the train has been diagnosed as have an “upper respiratory illness.”
Some reports indicate the fatal case had symptoms prior to boarding the train in Japser, along with the tour group. The origin of the tour group has not been released. Media reports indicate that evacuating or quarantining the town is not under consideration “for now”, but such measures have not been excluded.
A news conference is expected soon, and initial lab results may be available later today.
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