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Updated at 11:07 a.m., Friday, May 9, 2008

Canadian train quarantined after illness breakout

Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian authorities quarantined a train in northern Ontario Friday after a woman died and several other people came down with an undetermined illness.

Officials were keeping passengers from leaving the train, said Steve Trinier, the director of ambulance services in the area.

The train was being held in the station in the town of Foleyet, 500 miles northwest of Toronto. The station was evacuated.

As many as 10 people were ill with flu-like symptoms. The illnesses appeared to be contained to two cars on the train of 269 passengers and 30 crew members.

One person was taken to hospital and is in stable condition, Trinier said.

The cross country Via passenger train was headed from Vancouver to Toronto when emergency officials received a call Friday morning and met the train in Foleyet.

Trinier said they didn't know the cause of the illnesses yet.

"There's certainly a possibility of something as simple as food poisoning and also an environmental toxin of some sort," Trinier said.