Hindsight is a wonderful thing

tallg
By tallg

Despite the well publicised fact that these cameras are a waste of time, it seems that officials fell for the over-hyped sensationalism surrounding swine flu and wasted money installing useless equipment anyway;

Scanner ‘not ideal to detect’ H1N1 flu

“Thermal cameras may not be the effective means to detect those with H1N1 flu as it only records body temperature,” the Deputy Minister of Health HE Dr Ahmed Naji said in a statement published in the local Arabic daily Arrayah.
He was commenting on the thermal cameras installed at the Abu Samra border check-post.

Source: Gulf Times

By heero_yuy2• 6 Aug 2009 05:57
heero_yuy2

Just thinking aloud. I noticed the usual 'overprice' of almost every certain project in Qatar but only is built/installed on cheap labour and materials.

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By ngourlay• 6 Aug 2009 01:57
Rating: 2/5
ngourlay

bleu - the UK removed them because they don't slow the spread of infection. they're simply cosmetic.

you're better off providing hand-washing facilities or printing posters saying: "don't sneeze in other people's faces"

By bleu• 5 Aug 2009 13:51
Rating: 5/5
bleu

Sorry to break your bubble,it's not only O&G countries. I saw the same thermal scanner cameras in HKG and KUL airports, as well as the land borders between HK and Shenzhen... Many "western" countries installed them a while ago then removed them (they didn't want to scare the tourists)

By drsam• 4 Aug 2009 10:50
drsam

whereever the machine take the reading from, that spot has an average temperature. if someone has a significant variation in the temperature, it's spotted out.

none is 37?

anyway, i will stop posting on this thread now that it's on the main forum page.

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 21:58
tallg

drsam, please do some research. They check in mouth, anus, armpit, ear because they give closest representation of internal body temperature, but even those places vary in temperature. None of them are at 37 degC.

And this article isn't talking about airports. Abu Samra checkpoint is a road.

By heero_yuy2• 3 Aug 2009 20:00
heero_yuy2

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By drsam• 3 Aug 2009 19:50
drsam

that's why ur lips turn blue in cold winters, or in freezing temperatures u must not rubb ur nose or ears because they may be frozen.

By drsam• 3 Aug 2009 19:27
Rating: 2/5
drsam

i think it is. u place the termometer in ur mouth, ckeck the ear, or under ur shoulder

there is many places in the body that can give u accurate mesurements.

than it's in airport/ ports/ frontiers

so they're dealing with passenger. none of which is coming on foot under the sun, or coming down from a mountain. so all the "specimen" r roughly in the same conditions of temperature and pression. the ones with higher readings will be singled out.

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 19:03
tallg

And I very much doubt that the face is the same temperature as the brain!

You're not a real doctor, are you?

By drsam• 3 Aug 2009 18:59
drsam

hypothermia!

the machine locate the hyperthermia! hypertermic will just be checked! if they just came from the desert sun and after 5 min their temp is back to normal, it's a false alert! sorry sir for the inconvinience, carry on with ur daily routine.

after all if ur gonna stop the spreading of an epidemy (or pandemy) u have to do something.

what do u propose?

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 18:57
Rating: 2/5
anonymous

Many people will die but the survivors will get cheaper rented apartments on the pearl so it's not all bad.

Maybe they could us these machines on a Friday at the malls to keep the brown men out as well......

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 18:52
Rating: 5/5
tallg

On a trip during a windy and snowy day, a man recorded his skin and body temperature while climbing a mountain. The skin temperature of his toe was about 15 °C. At the same time, the temperature of his chest was 32 °C. This shows that different parts of the body have different skin temperatures.

Abanty Farzana -- 2001

By drsam• 3 Aug 2009 18:47
drsam

temperature checking of the machine is from the head or face (front?)

don't think it will vary so much. the hands can be 25 C but the front is around the same as the brain inside, or what's left of it!!

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 17:48
Rating: 3/5
tallg

drsam - That's internal body temperature. External temperature will vary depending on how much heat your body is dissipating.

By drsam• 3 Aug 2009 17:18
Rating: 5/5
drsam

whether ur naked in antarctica with-50 or seating over a heater in the desert sun at +50, body temperature do not change:37 degree C.

over 42 u die, less than 35 bye bye.

if body temperature is not 37 than something is wrong.

that's what these machines tell u. they don't say u have flu or fever or menstruation, it just check the temperature.

By Wiked• 3 Aug 2009 16:00
Wiked

FACE YOUR FEARS LIVE YOUR DREAMS

End Of World:P

Humans Created it and now they are worried:s

Work for 5 yrs and reirment for 30yrs Or work for 30 yrs and reitrment for 3 yrs .......

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 14:36
tallg

Purely speculating here, but I imagine that when money is reasonably abundant there doesn't need to be much behind expenditure decisions. Couple that with the outrageous hysteria that engulfed the outbreak swine flu, and the government were probably sucked in by the marketing ploys and were convinced they need these machines, despite reports stating that they're effectively useless, as proved during the bird flu outbreak.

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 13:57
anonymous

I wonder what goes behind these government expenditure decisions. Even for small operational expenses we doa cost benefit analysis. For this kind of investments,I wonder what kind of due deligence is undertaken. Some of the other costs that governments incur run into millions only to realise later that it was a mistake.

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 13:50
tallg

Yet they installed them anyway.

By Bahraini83• 3 Aug 2009 13:42
Rating: 3/5
Bahraini83

i have read the articel in the arabic newspaper

he said that its not practical to install them in Abu Samra becuase its a desert area and normally the body temp. is already high becuase of the long period under the sun

By ngourlay• 3 Aug 2009 12:01
Rating: 5/5
ngourlay

As far as I can work out, the reason they're being used is to reassure the public and discourage flu sufferers from visiting airports and malls.

However, since they were shown in the SARS outbreak not to be effective in preventing transmission, the whole exercise seems pretty cynical. It relies on the public believing in a product that the authorities know to be useless. As the Wizard of Oz might say: "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 10:30
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

placed order for Six thermal scanners

As-Sunnah As Saheeha

http://www.islamlecture.com/

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 10:25
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

M303 infrared was installed at all major airports

As-Sunnah As Saheeha

http://www.islamlecture.com/

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 09:19
anonymous

@ tallg,relax mate...no offence meant...

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 08:32
tallg

I wasn't aware that I was suggesting that I hadn't come across this before.

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 07:52
anonymous

Well this neck of the woods is pretty much the global dumping ground for useless shit that no other countries will buy 'cos they either a) know better or b) manufacture their own, neither of which is the case here...add to that high revenues from oil & gas sales & voila! you have:- wasted money on useless equipment,c'mon tallg,don't tell me you haven't come across this here before mate?...

By tallg• 3 Aug 2009 07:48
Rating: 2/5
tallg

Or they could have just stepped out of an air-conditioned car into 45deg heat.

By baldrick2dogs• 3 Aug 2009 07:41
Rating: 5/5
baldrick2dogs

Errr, isn't a person with a higher body temperature more likely to HAVE flu?

By anonymous• 3 Aug 2009 07:41
anonymous

Complete waste of money. I'm sorry this is just stupid. What about the people that have the virus but do not haveba temp yet? Ignorance is astounding sometimes.

By every_mothers_nightmare• 3 Aug 2009 07:34
Rating: 5/5
every_mothers_nightmare

its effective in some ways...

a person with a high body temp is more likely to catch H1N1 virus then a normal person.

Aana free, jaana free,

Pakde gaye tho khana free.

Log in or register to post comments

More from Qatar Living

Qatar’s top beaches for water sports thrills

Qatar’s top beaches for water sports thrills

Let's dive into the best beaches in Qatar, where you can have a blast with water activities, sports and all around fun times.
Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part Two

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part Two

This guide brings you the top apps that will simplify the use of government services in Qatar.
Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part One

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part One

this guide presents the top must-have Qatar-based apps to help you navigate, dine, explore, access government services, and more in the country.
Winter is coming – Qatar’s seasonal adventures await!

Winter is coming – Qatar’s seasonal adventures await!

Qatar's winter months are brimming with unmissable experiences, from the AFC Asian Cup 2023 to the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 and a variety of outdoor adventures and cultural delights.
7 Days of Fun: One-Week Activity Plan for Kids

7 Days of Fun: One-Week Activity Plan for Kids

Stuck with a week-long holiday and bored kids? We've got a one week activity plan for fun, learning, and lasting memories.
Wallet-friendly Mango Sticky Rice restaurants that are delightful on a budget

Wallet-friendly Mango Sticky Rice restaurants that are delightful on a budget

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a sweet escape into the world of budget-friendly Mango Sticky Rice that's sure to satisfy both your cravings and your budget!
Places to enjoy Mango Sticky Rice in  high-end elegance

Places to enjoy Mango Sticky Rice in high-end elegance

Delve into a world of culinary luxury as we explore the upmarket hotels and fine dining restaurants serving exquisite Mango Sticky Rice.
Where to celebrate World Vegan Day in Qatar

Where to celebrate World Vegan Day in Qatar

Celebrate World Vegan Day with our list of vegan food outlets offering an array of delectable options, spanning from colorful salads to savory shawarma and indulgent desserts.