Drone Sampling Detects Deadly Virus Circulating in Arctic Whale Populations

Scientists are employing unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to analyze the breath, or "blow," of whales, establishing a non-invasive method for assessing the internal health of these large marine mammals. This technique allows researchers to study large populations in remote habitats without direct physical contact, thereby mitigating stress previously associated with marine biology fieldwork.

The method involves flying specially equipped drones with sterile Petri dishes through the plume of vapor released when whales surface to exhale. This captures microscopic droplets from the respiratory system for subsequent laboratory analysis. The exhaled breath contains crucial biological traces for monitoring the respiratory condition and overall welfare of the animals, enabling more ethical and scalable surveillance, particularly in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems.

This research confirmed the circulation of Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV), a highly pathogenic agent linked to mass mortality events in marine mammals globally since its initial identification in 1987, in waters north of the Arctic Circle for the first time. An international study, led by Nord University in collaboration with King's College London and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in the United Kingdom, verified the presence of this virus in the Arctic.

The virus, known to cause severe damage to the respiratory, neurological, and immune systems of cetaceans, was detected in groups of humpback whales in northern Norway, a sperm whale exhibiting signs of poor health, and a stranded pilot whale. The sampling period spanned from 2016 to 2025, covering the Northeast Atlantic, including areas in northern Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde. In addition to breath samples, the team analyzed skin biopsies and, in one instance, an organ sample for a more thorough health assessment.

Professor Terry Dawson of the Department of Geography at King's College London noted that this technique provides critical insights into diseases within dynamic Arctic environments by allowing pathogen monitoring in live whales without causing distress. The early detection capability is vital for implementing timely conservation responses before mass mortality events, which CeMV is known to trigger, can occur. The presence of the virus in the Arctic raises new concerns given the potential for increased species interaction in warming northern seas.