Drones detect deadly virus in Arctic whales' breath

Scientists have collected exhaled breath from humpback, fin, and sperm whales in the North-East Atlantic using drones fitted with sterile sampling kits. The effort confirmed for the first time that cetacean morbillivirus is circulating above the Arctic Circle, a finding that underscores the potential spread of a virus linked to disease and mass deaths among marine mammals. The Arctic region is undergoing rapid ecological change, which could influence the dynamics of such pathogens.

In addition to blow samples, researchers gathered skin biopsies from boats to pair genetic and pathogen data with physiological context. Cetacean morbillivirus is highly contagious and can jump between species and across oceans, causing severe disease and mass strandings in dolphins, whales, and porpoises. The Arctic detection shows the virus is present in northern waters, where many populations are already stressed by warming seas and shifting prey availability.

The team, a collaboration among King’s College London, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in the UK, and Nord University in Norway, reported that cetacean morbillivirus is circulating above the Arctic Circle. The sampling method, which leverages drones to collect exhaled droplets from the whales’ blowholes, also involved skin biopsies to help confirm infections and assess physiological context. The virus is highly contagious and has a history of causing severe disease and mass mortalities among dolphins, whales, and porpoises, with the potential to jump between species and travel across oceans.

The researchers noted that detecting pathogens in the wild without inducing stress in animals represents a major advancement for wildlife health monitoring. Prof Terry Dawson of King’s College London described the approach as a game-changer for assessing disease risk in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems. He emphasized that noninvasive sampling enables researchers to monitor pathogens in living whales, generating timely insights without harming the animals.

Across the North-East Atlantic, the study encompassed humpback, sperm, and fin whales, broadening the geographic and species scope of Arctic health surveillance. The drone-enabled method, paired with noninvasive skin biopsies collected from boats, provides a scalable framework to track emerging pathogens as climate-driven shifts alter whale movements and ecosystem dynamics. The work underscores the value of noninvasive tools in detecting threats early and informing conservation actions as Arctic oceans undergo rapid change.

"Going forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term surveillance, so we can understand how multiple emerging stressors will shape whale health in the coming years," said Helena Costa of Nord University, Norway. The study, a collaboration among King’s College London, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and Nord University, was published in BMC Veterinary Research.

Researchers stress that ongoing sampling will be essential to map how cetacean morbillivirus and other pathogens move through Arctic marine mammal populations, a task that will require sustained international cooperation and continued development of noninvasive surveillance technologies. The emergence of such monitoring tools comes at a time when Arctic ecosystems are experiencing rapid warming, shifting migrations, and changing prey dynamics, all of which can influence disease transmission and animal health.

The deployment of drone-based breath sampling marks a notable step forward in wildlife disease surveillance, offering a method to observe ocean health with minimal disturbance to animals. As scientists refine the technique and expand its geographic reach, many expect it to become a standard component of programs aimed at safeguarding Arctic marine mammals from infectious disease threats.