The Airports Company of SA (Acsa) is planning to install technology to check the temperatures of passengers arriving from countries affected by swine flu, an official said on Wednesday.

"These thermal image detection systems, we had all along planned on employing them," said director of operations Bongani Maseko.

He told SABC radio that the recent arrests of flight personnel for drug possession "exacerbated" the decision to deploy the new technology.

Maseko said there were no direct flights to South Africa from the high risk swine flu areas of Mexico and Canada.

"We do plan on installing such technology to detect people with unusual temperatures...

"They would certainly help... to detect people who may be carrying the disease," said Maseko in an interview with the public broadcaster.

The technology would show raised temperatures, which could indicate people who were anxious and possible drug smugglers.

Maseko did not say when the technology would be put to work.

Ports of entry are on high alert after 159 people died of suspected swine flu in Mexico and another 1311 were exhibiting symptoms.

Seven other countries had confirmed infections while another 17 countries had suspected infections.

The World Health Organisation has raised its warning level on the disease to a level four, with level six being the highest warning level.