A team of Norwegian and British scientists has made a major breakthrough in marine health surveillance, using drones to analyze the “blow” exhaled by whales. Researchers from Nord Universitet, King’s College London, and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies collected respiratory samples from humpback whales, sperm whales, and fin whales in northern Norway, paving the way for a non-invasive and highly effective method to study marine pathogens.
Cetacean morbillivirus reaches Arctic waters
Through this innovative approach, scientists confirmed for the first time that the cetacean morbillivirus—a potentially deadly virus—is circulating above the Arctic Circle. Known for triggering devastating outbreaks among whales and dolphins since the late 1980s, the virus now poses a renewed threat.
Molecular tests conducted on samples collected between 2016 and 2025 in the northeastern Atlantic—from Norway to Cape Verde—detected the virus in humpback whales, a weakened sperm whale, and a stranded pilot whale. First identified in dolphins, the virus’s appearance in new species raises concerns for marine ecosystem health.
How drones collect samples
The research, part of the BLOWOMICS project and published in BMC Veterinary Research, received funding from the Norwegian Research Council (Forskingsrådet) and the European Wildlife Disease Association. Scientists used drones equipped with sterile Petri dishes to hover above whale blowholes and collect micro-droplets expelled during exhalation.
Experts say this technology marks a turning point in conservation strategies, enabling early detection of viruses like morbillivirus, which has been linked to mass stranding events across the globe.
Health and environmental impacts in a changing Arctic
The cetacean morbillivirus is highly pathogenic, causing severe respiratory, neurological, and immune system damage in infected animals. Since its discovery in 1987, it has led to multiple mass mortality events. The study’s findings also raise concerns about the risk of outbreaks during winter feeding aggregations, where whales, dolphins, seabirds, and even humans interact closely.
Other infectious agents under scrutiny
Researchers also found herpesviruses in humpback whales from Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde. However, no traces of avian influenza or Brucella bacteria—both previously linked to strandings—were detected.
The need for long-term monitoring
The study involved additional partners including UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Háskóli Íslands, and BIOS-CV in Cape Verde. The researchers emphasize the importance of ongoing surveillance, especially as environmental and infectious stressors continue to evolve.
Lead author Helena Costa notes, “Our priority going forward is to keep using these methods for long-term monitoring, so we can understand how multiple emerging stress factors will affect whale populations in the years ahead.”