Philippine Airports Use Thermal-Imaging Cameras To Prevent Entry of Swine Flu

The Philippines is one of the lucky countries not to have even a single swine flu case despite the apparent global pandemic. Why, you ask? Well, perhaps because of the excellent security and surveillance measures being implemented in the country's main airports.

Here's a video courtesy of Al Jazeera Network (with reporter Marga Ortigas) covering the Philippine's effort to prevent the entry of Swine Flu in the country:

What is a thermal-imaging camera?

Quoting Physorg:

The devices are just like regular cameras, except that instead of recording light that objects reflect, these cameras are sensitive to heat. They can even work in the dark.
Recordings from these cameras show up on video screens with hotter objects looking brighter. The systems are very sensitive, measuring temperatures down to a fraction of a degree Fahrenheit, said Andrew Sarangan, an associate professor in the University of Dayton's electro-optics program.

Thermal cameras were rolled out during the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, and airports in Singapore and China have been using them continuously since, said Alan Thomson, regional sales director at U.K.-based Irisys, a maker of thermal imaging devices.

TechPinas salutes Philippine Airports for their efforts to keep the country safe.

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