Swine flu causes fever, with body temperatures rising to great than 38 deg C. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches.
In light of this various countries are considering or are deploying or carrying out trials using infrared as a scanning technology to detect persons with elevated temperatures which may be the result of Swine flu.
The purpose of such equipment is to produce infrared or “heat pictures” of a human face by utilizing an infrared camera and based on these thermal images provide surface temperature measurements; and to indicate if a defined threshold temperature is exceeded – say, 37 deg C.
(Surface skin temperature is lower than the internal body temperature.)
The product that Irisys is offering for such initial screening – though they are keen to stress it is not a diagnostics tool – is the IRI 2010. When a temperature in the scene exceeds the user defined threshold an alarm is flashed up on the camera screen and an audible alarm sounded.
Additionally, the IRI 2010 also incorporates a visual camera. This means that a person with fever will not only be detected, but by use of the visual camera that person will also be identified. This is particularly useful when screening groups of people.
In 2002 when there was an outbreak of SARS (Severe Respiratory Syndrome) Irisys did a considerable amount of work with Siemens in Singapore.
A unit installed for a three day trail at Changi Airport in Singapore detected a suspected case on the second morning.
In trials on the border four motorcyclists were identified. Two were released after a further check. Two were admitted into hospital for further screening and tests.
