Ebola outbreak in Africa.

The World Health Organization recently warned, “An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] risks spreading to major towns if not brought under control soon after the death toll doubled within a week” (Reuters, September 13, 2012).  Thirty-one people have died, including five healthcare workers who treated the sick.  According to a WHO spokesman in the Congo’s capital of Kinshasa, “The epidemic is not under control.  On the contrary the situation is very, very serious” (ibid.).  The outbreak in the DRC comes on the heels of a similar outbreak in Uganda that is now under control (Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2012).

Ebola is caused by an incurable virus that causes up to 90 percent of its victims to bleed to death quickly.  The cases in the Congo are believed to have been contracted from infected bush meat hunted by local villagers.  Public health officials fear diseases like Ebola because of their potentially long incubation periods (up to 21 days), their deadly nature, and their ease of transmission from person to person.  

Jesus Christ warned that in the last days, “pestilences” or plagues will torment mankind (Luke 21:11).  As time goes on, Bible prophecies indicate there will be more and increasingly severe outbreaks of deadly diseases leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth—which is all the more reason to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10)!