Deadlier than Ebola

The Ebola virus has cut short thousands of lives since its 1976 discovery. There have been roughly 40 recognized outbreaks to date, the most devastating being the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic that infected 28,610 people and killed 11,308.

One woman describes her experience with the disease: “I battled for my life while watching patients die one by one next to me. Was it my turn? I could not accept that. The fever was weakening me. … Sleeping was so difficult because no position was good enough for my severely aching joints. There was a heaviness in my chest that made it hard to breathe.”

This woman was fortunate. She survived the Zaire Ebola strain, which can have a ninety percent fatality rate in untreated cases. Since then, a vaccine and therapeutic treatments have been developed that significantly increase survival rates for the Zaire strain.

The current Ebola outbreak began last month in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and then spread into Uganda. It was caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola species for which there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as of June 6, there were 534 confirmed cases and 110 confirmed deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak “a public health emergency of international concern.”

How Bad Is Ebola?

Ebola symptoms usually appear eight to ten days after exposure. High fever, severe fatigue, headache, and joint pain are common at this stage. Many patients describe feeling as though they have been “hit by a truck” due to profound weakness. The early symptoms resemble those of other common illnesses, such as Malaria, Typhoid Fever, and Cholera. For this reason, Ebola patients are frequently misdiagnosed during the early stages of an outbreak, delaying lifesaving supportive treatment.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), as it’s called in the medical field, quickly advances, causing intense vomiting and diarrhea, accompanied by severe abdominal pain. EVD damages blood vessels, the immune system, and multiple organs as it spreads throughout the body. Those who succumb to the disease often die from shock, dehydration, and organ failure. Contrary to popular portrayal, dramatic bleeding from the nose and gums is less common. Yet that doesn’t make the disease any less terrifying. On average, people who die from Ebola only last ten days from the first symptom until their final breath.

With Ebola, a misdiagnosis and delayed treatment can turn deadly within a few days. However, prompt supportive care, such as IV fluids, electrolyte replacement, and supplemental oxygen, can save lives. The WHO reports: “The average Ebola disease case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25–90% in past outbreaks. Early intensive supportive care with rehydration and the treatment of symptoms improves survival.”

Deadlier than Ebola

An Ebola diagnosis can strike fear into the heart of even the most stalwart individuals. Yet the Bible has diagnosed humans with something far worse. The prophet Isaiah provides a graphic description of our condition: “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment” (Isaiah 1:5, 6).

The prophet’s words figuratively describe the toll that sin takes on our souls. Its corrupting influence permeates our entire being. And no one is excluded from this diagnosis. The apostle Paul explains, “There is none righteous, no, not one; … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).

What makes matters worse is that, left untreated, sin has a 100 percent mortality rate. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And this isn’t just physical death but complete and permanent annihilation. Learn more about the wages of sin with this free resource.

Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t give us such a devastating diagnosis without offering a cure.

The Only Cure

We are told that Jesus came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He did this by taking the penalty for our sins upon Himself. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. … the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5, 6).

Although Christ “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22), He knew its undiluted consequences intimately. Under the weight of our sins, His “soul [was] exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38). His suffering was so intense that “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Yet He was not deterred. He chose to die the death that we deserve.

The wages of sin is still death. However, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus is often called the “Great Physician.” He offers the only remedy for sin, and it’s 100-percent effective. Everyone who entrusts their life to Him will be saved.

But as with Ebola treatment, time is of the essence. “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Will you trust Jesus to heal your sin-sick soul today?

Discover more about what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for you.