When turtles have the disease they get ugly white lumps. As the turtle gets sicker, more and more tumors grow. The tumors can get as big as a head of cauliflower. Tumors can grow over a turtle's eyes and blind it. Tumors can make it hard for turtles to swim and find food.
Tumors make it much harder for a turtle to survive.
Many juvenile turtles are dying from this disease. Fibropapillomas are especially hard on them. Here is a map of the world showing all the places where sea turtles with fibropapillomas have been found. The places where sea turtles with fibropapillomas have been found. There are turtle scientists all over the world trying to stop the disease.