Scientists have developed a device to detect respiratory infections such as swine flu after finding existing temperature scanners fail to identify nearly 30 per cent of early-stage patients.
Authorities rely on temperature scans and health declarations to spot suspected flu cases at borders.
The new device is an infrared scanner. '[It] can check if there is a jump [in temperature] of more than 0.1 degree Celsius in one's throat area,' said Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases. 'The device can also show clearly the inflamed area.'
So far, 20 scanners have been made. The institute is waiting for a government permit to use them at mainland airports in the next one to two months. The mainland has reported 72 swine flu cases and Hong Kong 33. Almost all involve people who have flown in from the United States, Canada, Mexico or Australia.
Professor Zhong, a leading flu adviser to Beijing, said the threat of swine flu in Asia was much greater than in North America because of the presence of bird flu. 'Bird flu has a very high fatality of more than 60 per cent. If it mixes with swine flu, the consequences will be devastating.'
He was speaking in Hong Kong on Friday, where he attended a regional conference of the World Organisation of Family Doctors.