One person has died and several others have fallen ill on a VIA train near the small community of Foleyet in Northern Ontario.
The VIA Rail passenger train traveling from Vancouver to Toronto is under quarantine as authorities try to figure out what the flu-like symptoms are that are behind the illness.
Only emergency response personnel were being allowed on or off the train, which was carrying 264 passengers and 30 crewmembers.
“The rumours are flying, people are talking about SARS, nobody knows what’s going on,” said Foleyet resident Carol Woodhouse. “Usually we only have two policemen here, now I think we’ve got 20.”
Via Rail spokeswoman Catherine Kaloutsky confirmed one person had died but didn’t have further details on the other passengers on the train.
According to the CBC, there were 260 passangers on the train and 30 crew members.
Kaloutsky says anyone who has relatives coming in on that train and are concerned can contact VIA Rail at 1-888-842-7245.