Public officials are using infrared (IR) non-contact temperature measurement to identify infected people and stop the spread of infectious disease, including the H1N1 influenza A, or swine flu.
Using portable infrared thermal imagers from Fluke, airport, transit, public health officials, and others can quickly scan and measure the skin temperature of large numbers of people. Those who show temperatures higher than normal can then be isolated for further evaluation to help prevent the spread of disease.
All objects emit infrared energy, including the human body. IR non-contact thermal imagers measure surface temperature, including the temperature of skin, which is displayed in colour on a thermal imager or line scanner.
Individuals with fevers often have elevated skin temperature. When it reads a higher-than-normal temperature on a person, the thermal imager can trigger an alarm or light. Those people can then be further tested to determine whether they actually have a fever and communicable illness.
Fluke thermal imagers incorporate Fluke IR Fusion, a user-preferred technology that integrates infrared and visible-light images. IR Fusion helps the operator determine exactly where in the scene a heat source is located, so that individuals with elevated skin temperature can be easily located for further screening. Temperature differences as small as .05 °C can be detected.
As screening tools, Fluke infrared thermal imagers have many benefits, including non-contact screening, which reduces the chance of spreading infection or disease; fast temperature readings, which means that large groups of people can be screened quickly; and IR Fusion technology that provides screeners with a visible light image (digital picture) of the crowd so that individuals with elevated body surface temperature are easy to identify making screening quicker and more efficient; infrared temperature measurement, which is completely safe and non-invasive, so there is no risk to public safety or privacy; and the ability to screen people while moving, so travel is not delayed.
In addition to such public health applications, Fluke thermal imagers are invaluable tools to detect moisture damage and missing insulation, identify energy losses, inspect roofing, inspect electrical and mechanical equipment, and for many other everyday troubleshooting and maintenance tasks.
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