When Pandemic Prevention Becomes Political

As global fears regarding swine flu increase, world governments are seeking ways to curb the spread of this potential pandemic. In todays complex and struggling economy, recommending travel restrictions is politically difficult. Vice President Joe Biden of the United States recently backpedaled on his recommendation to avoid all unnecessary travel to Mexico. Governments are leery of any action which could potentially bankrupt the travel industry, especially when they are struggling to stimulate their economies, not weaken them. Yet the H1N1 virus is a serious threat, and while travel restrictions might be an over-reaction, health officials and political leaders know action must be taken to slow the spread of this virus.

Many world leaders are therefore turning to technology. Thermal imaging scanners have been installed at airports around the globe in an attempt to prevent individuals who have contracted the virus from entering their home countries. These thermal scanners, when trained on incoming passengers, alert airport officials when a passenger with a high fever passes. This allows health officials to approach the patient, who is then isolated from the general population until the cause of his illness is determined.

Most of Asia already has these thermal imaging scanners in place from the 2003 SARS crisis. Other countries are moving quickly to install thermal imaging technology in their own airports. In the United States, however, most airports do not have thermal technology in place. In Houston, which receives more passengers arriving from Mexico than any other American airport, airport officials have been offered scanners from the Houston fire department but the CDC has refused them. Critics of thermal imaging argue that these scanners do not detect illness in individuals who are in the latency period of the virus, when individuals display no symptoms but are still contagious. Now, health leaders are fighting against a wildly spreading virus. If airport thermal imaging had been in place, swine flu might have been detected sooner and been better contained. If government officials are unwilling to take aggressive action against the spread of the virus by imposing economically-problematic travel bans, they must seek other solutions, including thermal imaging scanners. If an ounce of prevention is worth indeed a pound of cure, then if thermal imaging scanners had already been in place in border airports, health
officials might have prevented a pandemic. Even now, if the government acts quickly and decisively, thermal scanners still might mitigate the rapid spread of the swine flu.

by Martha Jarden

Mrs. Jarden is a healthcare professional.


References
Jackson, David. "Biden: Revising and Extending His Remarks." The Oval, USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/04/66203683/1 (30 April 2009).

Keith, Damala. "Swine Flu Measures in Place at Bush Airport." My Fox Houston. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/health/090427_swine_flu_bush_airport (30 April 2009).

Kole, William J. and Cheng, Maria. "World takes action on swine flu: Killing pigs, kissing bans and fever-seeking cameras." Newser.http://www.newser.com/article/d97sego00/world-takes-action-on-swine-flu-killing-pigs-kissing-bans-and-fever-seeking-cameras.html (30 April 2009).


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