Whooping cough outbreak in Illinois.

As of last Monday, the whooping cough (pertussis) outbreak in three Illinois counties included more than 500 diagnosed cases.  Public health officials say the actual number of cases is much higher, but that the 500 represent solely “medically diagnosed” cases.  In McHenry County alone there were 172 cases on Monday—up from just nine cases during the entirety of last year.  Officials do not know the exact reason for the outbreak.

Whooping cough is a bronchial disease that claimed thousands of lives annually in the U.S. prior to the advent of the pertussis vaccine in the 1930s. For infants, the disease is lethal in more than 80% of cases. Last year, a similar outbreak caused the death of ten infants in California, and more than 9,000 cases of infection (ABCNews.com, December 6, 2011).

The Bible is full of public health directives given from the Almighty God, including recommendations for quarantining sick individuals (see Leviticus 13- 14).  When followed, these lovingly-given statutes actually help prevent or lessen disease severity and duration.  

Additionally, we should expect to see more disease outbreaks like the one in Illinois—and more deadly ones—as we approach the end of the age.  Christ prophesied that one of the signs of the end of the age would be pestilences (Luke 21:11), and that these pestilences (plagues or diseases) would be just the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).  

For more information on this vital topic, review our free booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.