Tina...the heading of this post says epidemic...TT says endemic

Perhaps in my old age I have become a total cynic......people are panicking all over the net on this one....

My apologies Helen... you're quite right of course this thread title does indeed say epidemic. I was looking at it from the angle of the vets report and the TT article where it originated rather than this thread - which says endemic not epidemic (the vets words).


I think we all become cynical as we get older sadly.

I think what frustrates me is that there are on-line suppliers of reptiles (one I can think of in particular) who are seen as total no go areas because of their poor reputation. These suppliers can be discussed in a rational way without anyone mentioning scaremongering or marketing, it's just seen as sharing of information and experiences. But when it comes to discussing what may be very poor online suppliers of torts some people automatically assume that it's scaremongering by a certain group or people are only speaking up because they're anti-imports which (in my mind anyway) isn't what's happening.

__________________

This is the case with any diseased tortoise which can be captive born as well as wild caught. Because the disease can lay dormant for so long there is no way to be certain that your new captive born is not a carrier.

Also... the disease can lay dormant for much longer than 10 years. In the case of the human herpes virus it can lay dormant through the life of the host. I have no doubt that this is the case with the chelonian herpes virus.

If you read through how the disease is contracted it is by direct contact. The virus has a very short life if it is not in a host.

Finally... a single note is well and good but this is obviously being perpetuated for obvious reasons.

Ed

i honestly think that it comes to a stage where one cant really differentiate between what is a bad or good supplier. after all, nobody knows which tortoises carry this illness.

these "suspect" suppliers are all commercial ventures so WHY are they being allowed to continue to supply tortoises? why hasnt their pet shop licence been revoked? why havent they been shut down? surely if an illnes that can potentially wipe out alot of tortoise collections in the uk is being spread via TNT and a bad supplier then somebody should be doing something about it?

or is it simply that there isnt enough information out ther about it all yet? i AM NOT pointing fingers at anybody, or accusing any orgainsations of "marketing ", i am asking a genuine question. Is ONE confirmed case enough to justify people getting ultra worried or is it unfair that this information has been presented to people with out considering that people panic over the health and saftey of their pets? look at the whole birdflu fiasco, there was widespread panic and peopel were petrified.

i do really and truly hope that this one confirmed case stays at that, ONE confirmed case. but we have to ask how many tortoises have died without vets attention and have infected other groups of tortoises due to poor quarantine.

Depending on the content of the text the word probably should be epidemic...

Ed

While you might read it that way... that is not the way it is being taken on some groups.

I originally ignored this post as... so... stuff happens... but the way this is being perpetuated on other lists there is obviously an agenda beyond the scope of the orignal note.

Ed

After actually reading the note presented on the TT website (something I try to avoid) I found the note was very accurate and to the point. My problem is that at the last two paragraphs and beyond the author adds commentary that is doing exactly what they are saying they are not doing.

The note would have been brilliant and informative had the last two paragraphs and beyond not been made. I was actually impressed how unbiased the note was up until a point.

As I said... Throw away the opinion... and it is actually a good note with good advice to follow.

Ed

I guess the summer is in full swing and some folks seem to feel worthless without a cause.

Oh... endemic would be species specific... stemming from... region specific... such as occuring nowhere else...

Epidemic would be that it is wide spread and concentrated.

Ed

mumps is endemic in Uk....malaria isnt...vector...mosquito....not present