With 150 infected across the U.S. nation and also 1 death so far, that of a toddler in Houston, Texas many are wondering how bad this epidemic will be. With the use of the infrared medical imaging equipment, these organizations are able to identify persons who have an elevated temperature hopefully many can be isolated until their health returns. These infrared imagers, which can't scan for the virus itself are a measure that will hopefully ebb the tide of H1N1 Influenza outbreaks spreading across the world.

    China is one of the only areas with the use of thermal surveillance as a common practice. Thermal imaging in airports has been constantly ongoing since the 2003-2004 SARS outbreaks and more recently thermal imagers have been purchased and put into practice in Mexico lately. With the current events that have many concerned about a flu pandemic, airport security is tight and people are being screened also at the border checkpoints for flu symptoms. The current H1N1 influenza outbreak has been noted so far to reach so far as Canada and possibly Japan. This has many worried and recently Mexico has ordered more of these thermal imagers to use for additional protection against the spread of this disease.

    Virus monitoring is ongoing at border checkpoints. Reports are being made to and by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and other countries' health organizations, including the World Health Organization. This virus monitoring could not only let people know how serious the flu epidemic is but also let them know what locations have become flu pandemic hot spots, so that they can avoid exposing themselves if they live in the area and prevent others from traveling to those areas.

    Infrared imaging used in medical practice isn't new but it also isn't applied widely. Medical imaging might be in more common practice after the current flu epidemic has been dealt with. This will prevent future widespread contagious virus communication, at least those that have a fever symptom. Applying these at major ports, airports and border checkpoints once one of these diseases is identified that might possibly become a flu pandemic is a prudent measure. The use of scanning devices such as these during recent swine flu outbreak is becoming more prevalent and is an effective means of battling the spread of the outbreak.

    Where these thermal imagers are used, a harmless infrared scan is taken constantly as a video camera feed. These images produced are watched and analyzed with the help of computers. Pointed at travelers, these systems aim at identifying persons that may have this contagious virus. When identified by personnel from the World Health Organization or others performing thermal surveillance at airports, a person is calmly confronted and then taken to an area to be quarantined while treatments can be administered.

    Infectious diseases such as H1N1 influenza, due to the compact areas of air vehicles the sheer number of the many people passing through such places are easy places to transmit disease. The current outbreak has been labeled an airport security threat. Some airports see millions of passengers per year and possibly tens of thousands of persons each day pass through the busiest ones. These measures are in place to prevent persons, especially large numbers of those tens of thousands of people from becoming exposed and possibly infected. They have been a very useful tool and are helpful in battling the spread of the H1N1 flu and other diseases.

By  Thomas Stowe


How thermal-imaging cameras can spot flu fevers, Associated Press Ortutay, Barbara http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDYEp4Zzb3Ia4kp2hh14-c-DLwQAD97TL6VG0 (1 May, 2009)

Airport swine flu checks a breeze, say passengers, Brisbane Times Ramachandran, Arjun http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/airport-swine-flu-checks-a-breeze-say-passengers-20090501-apj9.html (1 May, 2009)

ABC Austrailia "AM" Transcript Reynolds, Michael http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2557794.htm (1 May, 2009) Calgary hit by 4 new flu cases, Mild cases reported after group returns from Mexico Lang, Michelle And CanWest News Service http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Calgary+cases/1553066/story.html (1 May, 2009)