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Scientists have made a deadly discovery virus in the breath of whale Due to which mammals are dying on a large scale Arctic Circle,
using the droneThe special device was flown through exhaled droplets, known as “blows”, which are then released whales come up to breathe Through their blowholes.
Researchers discover a highly infectious virusknown as cetacean morbillivirus, which is associated with mass stranding of whales And dolphin All over the world.
virus Can jump between species and become a significant threat to marine mammals.
The findings are expected to be published in the journal BMC Veterinary ResearchThis will help observers detect deadly threats to marine life before they spread.
“Drone blow sampling is a gamechanger. It allows us to monitor pathogens in live whale “The study provides important insights into diseases in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems, without causing any stress or harm,” said co-author Professor Terry Dawson, from the Department of Geography at King’s College London.
For the study, researchers, including King’s College London and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, were deployed drone Hover over whale blowholes and equipped with sterile petri dishes to capture respiratory droplets.
Samples from humpbacks, sperm and fins were collected between 2016 and 2025 whale Across the North Atlantic.
Shock samples, as well as skin biopsies, and in one case, an organ sample, were collected and examined for infectious agents using molecular laboratory tests.
virusCetacean morbillivirus, which was first identified dolphinA humpback whale was found in a group in northern Norway, a sperm whale showing poor health, and a stranded pilot whale.
Cetacean morbillivirus causes severe damage to the respiratory, neurological and immune systems and has caused several mass mortality events since its discovery in 1987.
The researchers noted that the findings also raise concerns about potential outbreak risks during dense winter-feeding gatherings. whaleSea birds and humans interact closely.
Herpes virus also found humpback whale in the waters around Norway, Iceland and Cape Verde – but no detection of avian influenza viruses or Brucella bacteria, Which has also been linked to stranding.
Lead author Helena Costa of Nord University said: “Moving forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term monitoring, so that we can understand how multiple emerging stressors will shape the health of whales in the years to come.”