Sea Turtle Released After Months of Herpes-like Disease Treatment

More than 200 camera-strapping onlookers gathered at the by the coast in Marineland, Florida to see the green sea turtle Cisco Kid get released back into the Atlantic Ocean.

Cisco Kid had been spending nearly six months in the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab getting treated for anemia and several large tumors after he was discovered stranded on Hammock Beach in Palm Coast last January.

The tumors were of a fibropapillomatosis nature. Fibropapillomatosis is a condition similar to that of human herpes that turtles can acquire in the wild. The cause of the disease remains unknown, however the condition has been documented and observed in all species of sea turtles, most commonly to green sea turtles like Cisco Kid.

After being nursed back to a considerably healthier state in April, Cisco Kid was well enough to have his tumors removed. The lab had used a carbon dioxide laser to remove the tumors, making Cisco Kid the first patient in the hospital to receive such treatment. This, according to the doctors, was the most effective way of removing the tumors as it is less painful, reduces bleeding and shortens recovery time. When the turtle was completely healed and was ready for release, he was carried by his vet, Brooke Burkhalter, to the coast and was released into the Atlantic Ocean, much to the delight of onlookers and well-wishers.

The people responsible for Cisco's recovery wishes he would stay well, because even if science gave the turtle a chance to escape such disease, there is still a chance the disease would come back."It could come back," said Jessica Long, the lab's spokesperson, referring to the disease. "Should the immune system of the turtle be compromised, it could come back."

The lab is also looking into finding a way to monitor sea turtles they will release back into the wild through tagging and satellite tracking, and are also hopeful about finding a cure to fibropapillomatosis.