May 1, 2009 10:10 pm US/Eastern
Airports Could Implement Fever Detection Systems
NORTH BILLERICA (WBZ) ―
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These special cameras can detect a fever, which could mean serious illness.
WBZ
Friday's
unexpected landing at Logan International Airport shows the importance of being able to detect passengers who are too sick to fly before they board an airplane.
A North Billerica company has developed technology to do just that.
What if airport personnel could detect in advance if a passenger is too sick to travel?
At Flir Systems in North Billerica a two-dimensional thermal imaging camera is being used to detect and display body temperature.
Flir's infra red cameras really became popular after the SARS epidemic. It's a non evasive mass screening that can detect someone with a fever, which in turn can help stop the spread of infectious diseases.
Infra red cameras are being used in airports all over the world, but not in the U.S.
"Using this technology, I would've thought by now that we would have some system in place today even after the SARS epidemic to do some testing to establish credibility of the technology," said Paul Czerepuszko with Flir Systems.
Since the H1N1 outbreak began, Flir has received a lot of requests. But they also admit the camera is only a preventative measure.
"This is not going to detect the H1N1 virus. Let's be clear, what we are trying to do is get a better understanding of the temperature of something so that leads to further investigation, like where have you been or who have you been in contact with," Czerepuszko said.
And that is hoped to help stop the spread of the virus.
Flir says the cost of these thermal imaging cameras can range anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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