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Drones detect deadly virus in Arctic whales' breath (www.bbc.com)

submitted 1 day ago by HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to c/science@lemmy.world

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Whale breath collected by drones is giving clues to the health of wild humpbacks and other whales.

Scientists flew drones equipped with special kit through the exhaled droplets, or "blows", made when the giants come up to breathe through their blowholes.

They confirmed for the first time that a potentially deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, is circulating above the Arctic Circle.

The disease is highly contagious and spreads easily among dolphins, whales, and porpoises causing severe disease and mass deaths.

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[–] BrazenSigilos@ttrpg.network 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I could use a brush up on my Latin, but is that whale killing Virus basically called "Whale Killer Virus"?

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's Morbillin' time!

I think it just translates to virus that kills. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morbillivirus

[–] vodka@feddit.org 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

And cetacean in front of it is whales, so whale killing virus.

Assuming the full name of this strain of the virus is Cetacean Morbilliviris

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

Would it make sense to build a vaccine for them? I figure their numbers are relatively low and most of them are tracked one way or another.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 5 points 1 day ago

Well the title is definitely a brand new sentence.