Scientists have discovered using drone technology that a deadly whale virus may be spreading in the Arctic Circle. This study provides a key basis for developing protection strategies. This virus is related to multiple large-scale stranding incidents of whales and dolphins worldwide, and early warning can help intervene in a timely manner. The research was conducted in collaboration with institutions such as King's College London, and the results were recently published in the BMC Veterinary Research journal. The team used a drone equipped with sterile culture dishes to hover above the whale jet hole and capture respiratory droplets. It was successfully applied in northern Norway to collect exhaled gas samples from wild humpback whales, sperm whales, and fin whales, achieving pressure free and injury free live sampling. This also marks a new era of non-invasive monitoring for animal health in the Arctic region. Research has shown that the whale measles virus has been detected in a group of humpback whales in northern Norway, as well as in a poorly healthy sperm whale and a stranded pilot whale. Since its discovery in 1987, this virus has caused multiple large-scale deaths in whales worldwide, leading to severe damage to the respiratory, nervous, and immune systems. The study also found that there is a risk of epidemic outbreaks when whales come into close contact with seabirds and humans for foraging during winter. The study emphasizes that pathogens such as measles virus may interact with other environmental stressors, exacerbating the health risks of Arctic animals, and therefore it is necessary to continue monitoring. (New Society)