Transport Security

Thermal scanners deployed as swine flu spreads east

By Diana Jumaat | 29 April 2009

Governments across Asia have been using thermal scanning technology in airports as a preventive measure against the threat of swine flu, which is now believed to have spread from its origin in Mexico to South Korea, Thailand, China, Australia and Hong Kong.

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Thermal scanners and upgraded checks for flu-like symptoms are now in place at major airports across the region, including Japan, Indonesia and Singapore, which have not yet reported confirmed cases of the virus.

Tokyo’s Narita airport has installed a device at the arrival gate for flights from Mexico to measure the temperatures of passengers.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health posted a notice on its web site urging airports and seaports to set up thermal scanners and test inbound passengers for swine flu symptoms, particularly arrivals from affected countries.

The Thai government has ordered thermal scanners to be installed at the country’s international airports, including the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, while the same has been done at Singapore’s Changi airport for flights from the United States.

In China, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said several suspected cases are under investigation. The government has request that anyone with flu-like symptoms should report to the authorities.

Malaysia has responded to the outbreak by asking WHO to impose a ban on all travel out of Mexico, while health officials in the Philippines have urged citizens not to kiss or hug in public in case human contact helps to spread the virus.

Meanwhile, debate rages over the name of the virus, which cannot be transmitted by eating pork. However countries including China, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine and Ecuador have banned or restricted imports of pork products from North America.

The correct terminology of the flu strain is H1N1, according to the US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. It contains avian and human components, and no pig so far has been found ill with the disease.