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Demand Slows Delivery of Thermal Scanners

Until Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had announced that the H1N1 virus had spread to 21 countries and infected nearly 1,500 people in just over 10 days. WHO Head Margaret Chan has also warned that its worldwide pandemic alert level could eventually move to Phase 6 — its highest level. Though scanners are being touted as an initial test to gauge the disease at entry points, experts are wary of its accuracy and are asking governments to start educating masses as part of other preparedness plans. Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore and Australia are among the countries that have already introduced or stepped up use of scanners in the past few days after increasing warnings.

In the UAE, installing scanners at all international entry point still does not seem to be a top priority for the Ministry of Health with the Sharjah International Airport yet to install one. One machine is expected to be in place in a couple of days since demand for the scanners is high, says a senior official.

Dr Essam Salameh, head of the medical centre at the airport centre, says that the ministry has promised a scanner in a couple of days. “We are using an ear thermometer for the time being,” he adds. “We are not too worried about the scanner since we consider ourselves safe and away from most international flights,” adds Dr Salameh. The airport, however, receives flights from Athens, Greece, and transit passengers from Europe and Turkey, areas where the flu is catching on fast.

Though UAE health ministry officials were not available to confirm the number of machines ordered and from where, Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics), one of the international manufacturers and suppliers of the scanners, said that orders had been received from several GCC states.

Speaking to Khaleej Times from Singapore, Seah Moon Ming, President of ST Electronics said that Gulf countries had placed orders for the Infrared Fever Screening System (IFss).

“During the SARS epidemic in 2003 we had also sold some IFss to the UAE,” he said. However, he said that though several countries had placed orders for IFss, the numbers were not significant. Each unit of the IFss from ST Electronics costs about $50,000 and normal production lead time is about two to eight weeks depending on the numbers required. Ming also said that both in 2003 (SARS) and 2009, the company had sold IFss to a number of countries including Singapore, GCC, Sri Lanka, Macau, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and
many more.

“The scanners are also available on rent,” said a Dubai-based company representative. Three scanners are currently installed at Dubai International Airport, one at Abu Dhabi Airport one at Al Ain International Airport and another on the border with Saudi Arabia at Al Guweifat.

While countries worldwide are spending huge amounts to take precautions at the entry points, WHO officials say that educating the public is the next important step.

“The scanners are just one of the many steps that governments should take to contain any outbreaks. The surveillance does not end at the entry point,” said Dr Hassan Al Bushra, Director of Communicable Diseases Surveillance Unit of EMRO region.

“If a person has been exposed or infected… he might not be symptomatic at the airport,” said Dr Bushra.

“The concerned authorities need to keep an accurate follow up for at least two days with a suspected traveller,”
he adds.

According to the WHO official, the preparedness plan for each country is vast. — asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE