Implications of the new ISO standard for the use of thermal imaging for fever detection

Since 2003, when a serious outbreak of Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome occurred in China, infrared thermal imaging cameras have been employed in some airport and public building entrances to screen for people with a high temperature. A temperature increase in the face of 38ºC or more was judged to be sufficient to stop a passenger from mixing with others. Singapore Standards, SPRING in 2003/4 published two documents setting out criteria for optimising the use of these cameras. These documents were then brought to the International Standards Organisation who further developed documents for international use. This paper discusses the effects and implications on manufacture, and deployment of the technology in a pandemic influenza outbreak, already occurred in 2009.