Cetacean morbillivirus found in humpback whales off northern Norway

Scientists in northern Norway have detected cetacean morbillivirus in humpback whales, the first identification of the virus in Arctic waters, according to a study published in mid-December in the journal BMC Veterinary Research led by Helena Costa of Nord University. Researchers used drones to collect more than 50 samples of whale "blow" between 2016 and 2025 from humpback, sperm and fin whales following migration routes in northern Norway, Iceland and Cape Verde.

The samples were tested for four pathogens: cetacean morbillivirus, H5N1 (bird flu), herpesvirus and the bacterium brucella. The study found cetacean morbillivirus circulating in northern ecosystems; H5N1 and brucella were not detected. The study notes that cetacean morbillivirus is highly infectious in porpoises, dolphins and whales, has caused outbreaks worldwide—particularly in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean—and can affect respiratory and neurological systems.

The virus is transmitted through direct contact and respiratory droplets but is "not necessarily fatal," and some infected animals show no symptoms. The authors suggested that the lack of earlier reports in the Arctic Circle may reflect gaps in surveillance rather than true absence.

Investigators and outside researchers described the drone method as a less invasive way to sample whales compared with skin biopsies and as a pioneering step toward broader pathogen monitoring. Dr.

Key Topics

Science, Cetacean Morbillivirus, Northern Norway, Helena Costa, Nord University, Humpback Whales