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Illness strikes plane, passengers quarantined

Travelers sickened on flight from Tel Aviv, 70 held at Toronto airport

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updated 7:04 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2008

TORONTO - Over 70 passengers returning from Tel Aviv were placed in quarantine at Toronto's Pearson International airport Tuesday night after a number of travelers became ill during the flight. Three passengers were taken to hospital.

The plane, Air Canada flight 085 from Tel Aviv, was carrying about 200 passengers.

Air Canada representative Angela Mah said that over the course of the flight, three people traveling with an organized group fell ill, although one passenger said as many as eight were sick.

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Public Health Agency of Canada spokesman Alain DesRoche said the three passengers taken to the hospital were suffering from "acute gastroenteritis." Their symptoms included vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, DesRoche said in a statement.

DesRoche said 75 passengers were initially detained. While 47 were immediately allowed to proceed through customs, 28 went through additional screening before being released.

Some quarantined passengers said they were made to wear white body suits and masks. One complained about the treatment, saying passengers were told little.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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