Infrared cameras can help detect Swine Flu
Published: 05 March, 2010
Infrared cameras can help detect Swine Flu
An infrared camera is a very effective tool to detect people infected with a viral disease at a very early stage. Helping to lead this technology is Flir Infrared cameras. Several major airports in Asia discovered the benefit of infrared cameras in conjunction with the outbreak of SARS a couple of years ago, and are now using infrared cameras to scan whether arriving travellers show signs of being contaminated with the Swine Flu (H1N1) virus.
The infrared cameras used at the airports are specifically developed to detect individuals with high body temperatures in only a couple of seconds. The cameras have been developed based on experience from previous Flu outbreaks such as SARS and Bird Flu and are present in many airports in South East Asia, where the presence and threat of Bird Flu was the highest.
The camera produces infrared images or heat pictures of a person's face and detects whether the body temperature exceeds a certain value or not. The symptoms of Swine Flu are sore throat, nausea, cough and of course fever.
Arne Almerfors, Vice President Flir Thermography explained: "The aim is to efficiently identify and differentiate individuals in good health from individuals with fever who might be contaminated with the Swine Flu. After that, further medical analyses within the Public Health care will determine whether it is Swine Flu or not.”
The infrared cameras are very easy to use and have proven themselves as tools that can be operated by non-specialists after a few hours of training.
Almerfors added: “The camera needs no active monitoring as it has both colour and sound alarm functions making staff aware of any passing individuals with a body temperature exceeding a predefined value. On the camera display an infrared image of the individuals face is produced, clearly marking different temperature areas as different colours. The highest temperature spot will be automatically displayed and measured with one decimal accuracy.”
The infrared cameras from FLIR are very sensitive devices and measure temperature differences as small as 0.08 ºC. Ideally the camera is set up at places with long queues such as passport or customs control. To achieve the correct temperature the camera should focus on the most reliable temperature spot on the body - the corner of the eyes.
For further information please visit: www.flir.com
