Canadian Health Officials Now Say No Outbreak On Via Rail Train

May 11, 2008 12:47 p.m. EST

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - Ontario Health Officials on Saturday ruled out that a pandemic, or an outbreak of an extremely infectious disease, was responsible for the death of a Via Rail train passenger on Friday. At least six other passengers also fell ill, prompting the health ministry to quarantine remaining people on board.

In a news release, the Health Ministry said their investigation determined that the case was not infectious disease, but added that they're still looking for the cause of death of the 86-year-old passenger found inside one of the train's washrooms.

The Globe and Mail, citing the Health Ministry report, said four out of the six Australian passengers who boarded in Jasper, Alberta, exhibited symptoms of seasonal flu but are non-infectious. Meantime, another ailing passenger was airlifted to a Timmins hospital and is now in stable condition.

Via Rail spokesperson Catherine Kaloutsky said in a CTV interview that the 264 passengers on board the train have arrived at Toronto and were "in very good spirits".

"Everything's been more or less brought to a close from our perspective," Kalotsky told CTV, who also reported that the passengers said they were "tired but otherwise okay".

CTV said the train company also detailed crisis counselors for its employees aboard the train. Via Rail said this is the first time they've encountered a health scare.