Amidst all the serious traumas and wars happening in the world, it has been largely forgotten that there is an Ebola epidemic still spreading in Africa. I recall in previous Ebola outbreaks, the global media followed such dangerous events on a daily basis, giving new infections, total infections, etc. The current Ebola epidemic has been called the second worst in recorded history and it is still spreading. The first link cites officials saying it has not yet passed its peak. According to official totals, approximately 7,200 cases have been confirmed and there have been over 3,475 deaths. There are still 80 new cases a day being confirmed. To me, that still sounds like a major threat to human health. The first link also reports that while some people are being tracked via cell phones, many people are not being tracked at all and they could be spreading Ebola to new areas. Because many people are not being tracked or tested, it is almost certain that the death and infection rates are higher than reported.
In the second link, a UN official stated the Ebola outbreak “remains a deadly and massive epidemic.” That does not sound like the outbreak is nearing an end yet. Indeed, the link reports that it is expected the Ebola infections will spread to South Sudan next. Currently it is confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it has been spreading along the Congo River where considerable commerce and travel occurs.
In the third link, a report on this story is covered by the USA Today, and it reports that it is expected the outbreak “would take months to bring it under control.” This link repeats the news that the current Ebola outbreak is the second worst on record (the worst outbreak was in 2014-2016). As evidence of the virulence of this outbreak, the UN spokesman said that “It will take many, many months to get this outbreak under control fully…” By the time it is under control, it may have become the most lethal Ebola outbreak in history. Given that there are many health care volunteers, NGOs and media staff in the region from other nations, it is always possible some of these international persons may bring the Ebola plague back to their home nations when they leave the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hopefully, all such personnel will observe strict quarantine protocols before they return to open travel in their home nations. A more sinister risk is the number of people present in the outbreak region due to illegal interests such as wildlife and mineral/jewel smuggling, weapons dealers, etc.
In Matthew 24, Jesus Christ was asked by his disciples what would be the sign of his Second Coming (verse 3). Jesus identified wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes as signs that his return was imminent, but he also mentioned “pestilences.” That word would mean diseases and plagues. Ebola is a virulent “pestilence” which kills a high percentage of the people it infects. Looking at the above reported totals, it indicates that almost half of the people it infects have died of the disease. Ebola outbreaks do seem to begin in parts of Central Africa. Perhaps this latest outbreak will burn itself out and this Ebola plague will end, but keep in mind one of the links warned us that “many months” will pass before this outbreak is under control. All it would take for a catastrophic outbreak to occur is if travelers on a plane outbound from the Central African Republic spread it to Europe or other continents without realizing they were carrying the disease with them.
I suggest that while you watch the wars and major traumas happening in the world that you keep your eyes on this epidemic too. Doing a web search periodically will enable you to know how many more casualties are occurring because of this outbreak. It would be a grim development if it begins to spread to other nations as well.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/un-says-ebola-epidemic-still-huge-growing-2026-09-15/
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/it-remains-a-deadly-and-massive-epidemic-un-warns-ebola-may-not-have-peaked-in-congo/articleshow/134260802.cms
- https://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20260918/281578067566074?srsltid=AU7gw4UYi026qgYKiH0hiQD-rlwGCA1wmrbnE0mfRGtO3GzkOD-awgHw
