Scanners poor judges of swine flu

HONG KONG: Airports across the world have rushed to install thermal scanners in an effort to halt the spread of swine flu, but experts are raising doubts about the technology's ability to spot infections.

Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore and Australia are among the countries that have introduced or stepped up the use of the scanners while United States officials have faced criticism that they are not using more thermal imaging devices. But as the multi-colored screens become more common, their effectiveness is being questioned.

"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," World Health Organization spokesman Gregory Hartl told journalists in Geneva earlier this week. "Border controls don't work. Screening doesn't work."