Non-Subscriber Extract
Airports look to thermal screening in battle to contain swine flu
By Ben Vogel, Chantel Watkins and Gabriella Cordeiro
01 May 2009
Airports around the world have been placed on the front line in the battle against the Influenza A (H1N1) swine flu novovirus.
Global aviation bodies such as the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have issued advice to their members.
ACI and ICAO have updated their 'Airport Preparedness Guidelines for Outbreaks of Communicable Disease'. These set out the responsibilities for individual airports and national aviation authorities; the role of effective internal and external communication in response to an outbreak, particularly measures to be taken in informing departing passengers; and procedures to be followed for inbound aircraft carrying a suspected case of a communicable disease that may pose a serious public health risk.
The guidelines also state that "screening of arriving and departing travellers at international airports may be considered". Available tools include visual inspection, questionnaires and temperature measurement "using thermal scanners or other suitable methods".
The ACI/ICAO guidelines indicate that screening of departure passenger traffic may be "a better use of global health resources" than arrival screening.
"For many communicable diseases, entry [arrival] screening of travellers at international borders will incur considerable expense with a disproportionately small impact on the protection against international spread," the guidelines state.
In Malaysia, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai announced on 26 April that at least 11 thermal imaging scanners would be installed at international airports in the country to screen arrivals traffic, especially from the US.
Other national hub airports to install thermal imaging systems include Sofia International in Bulgaria; Bangkok Suvarnabhumi in Thailand; Seoul International in South Korea; and Ninoy Aquino International in Manila, the Philippines.