Infrared cameras help detect swine flu spread

Flir has revealed how its infrared cameras can help detect the spread of swine flu and other viral diseases.

Several major airports in Asia discovered the benefit of infrared cameras in conjunction with the outbreak of SARS a couple of years ago.

They now use Flir infrared cameras to scan whether arriving travellers can be contaminated with the N1H1 virus - the name of the virus behind swine flu.

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 infrared cameras are easy to use and have proven themselves as tools that can be operated by non-specialists after a few hours of training.

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 individual's 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 sensitive devices and measure temperature differences as small as 0.08C.

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.

Infrared cameras can play a vital role in the efforts of keeping the spread of swine flu or any other viral infection under control.

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