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Scientists have detected cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) in Arctic waters for the first time, using drones to collect breath samples from whales in northern Norway. This marks a significant expansion of the virus's known range, previously concentrated in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.​
About Cetacean Morbillivirus
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a highly infectious virus that affects whales, dolphins, and porpoises, causing severe respiratory, neurological, and immune system damage. It is closely related to measles and canine distemper viruses.
- Classification: Belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Morbillivirus.
- Species: Morbillivirus ceti.
- Strains:
- Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)
- Pilot whale morbillivirus (PWMV)
- Porpoise morbillivirus (PMV)
Symptoms & Impact
- Respiratory illness: Severe pneumonia impairs breathing.
- Neurological damage: Encephalitis affects brain function.
- Immune suppression: Weakens defenses, making cetaceans vulnerable to secondary infections.
- Behavioral effects: Infected animals struggle to swim or stay afloat unassisted.
Spread & Detection
- Transmission: Primarily through close contact and respiratory droplets.
- Regions reported: North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific, and recently detected in Arctic waters among humpback and sperm whales.
- Origin: First identified in 1987, likely evolved from terrestrial morbilliviruses before adapting to marine mammals.
- Detection methods: Modern techniques include drone-based sampling of whale breath (blow), which is non-invasive.
Risks & Conservation Concerns
- Mass die-offs: CeMV has been linked to large-scale mortality events in dolphin and whale populations.
- Ecosystem impact: Loss of cetaceans disrupts marine food webs and ecological balance.
- Conservation challenge: Monitoring is difficult due to the vast ranges of cetaceans and the ocean environment.
- Global concern: Its spread into Arctic waters suggests climate change and shifting migration patterns may be influencing disease dynamics.
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