They aren't contradictory. It's like saying that because someone can have HIV and show no symptoms it's always in the air or on the stuff around us? Obviously not. Fish can carry ick without symptoms for a while but that doesn't mean it is permanently present in the water. Ick is not found living on ornaments and the like. It can settle there though. It is a parasite so needs a host to live and reproduce. If you boil ornaments they will no longer harbour ick (which cannot survive high temps) though obviously that also destroys the beneficial bacteria. Live plants are a totaly different issue. Unfortunately, plants can actualy serve as a host for ick so treat the plants like you would the fish.
