OBJECTIVE: To determine the best approach for the evaluation of fever, detected by infrared thermal scanning, at an international airport. METHODS: Arriving passengers with fever were divided into three groups: community evaluation by a GP, with or without cost compensation, or evaluation at the airport by a health practitioner. Uptake of offered evaluations was measured, diagnoses were recorded, and region-specific rates of fever measured. Observations were made on practical aspects of thermal screening. RESULTS: Over a six-month period, 181,759 passengers were screened for fever at the Cairns international airport, Queensland, Australia. Fever was identified in 118 (0.06%) of the arriving passengers and 76 were enrolled in the study. Only 19 of these passengers (25%) voluntarily underwent further evaluation. No differences were observed in the three approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Public health surveillance of febrile passengers arriving at an international airport should not rely on voluntary passenger participation for the detection of imported contagious diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the best approach for the evaluation of fever, detected by infrared thermal scanning, at an international airport. METHODS: Arriving passengers with fever were divided into three groups: community evaluation by a GP, with or without cost compensation, or evaluation at the airport by a health practitioner. Uptake of offered evaluations was measured, diagnoses were recorded, and region-specific rates of fever measured. Observations were made on practical aspects of thermal screening. RESULTS: Over a six-month period, 181,759 passengers were screened for fever at the Cairns international airport, Queensland, Australia. Fever was identified in 118 (0.06%) of the arriving passengers and 76 were enrolled in the study. Only 19 of these passengers (25%) voluntarily underwent further evaluation. No differences were observed in the three approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Public health surveillance of febrile passengers arriving at an international airport should not rely on voluntary passenger participation for the detection of imported contagious diseases.
Authors: B Lefèvre; T Blanchon; P Saint-Martin; P Tattevin; D Che; E Caumes; T Pitel; L Rossignol; N Dournon; X Duval; B Hoen Journal: Infect Dis Now Date: 2020-06-18
Authors: Ting-Fang Chiu; Dachen Chu; Sheng-Jean Huang; Mengju Chang; Yining Liu; Jason Jiunshiou Lee Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-02 Impact factor: 3.390