Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period
… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and
pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
(Luke 21:11).
… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and
upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
(Luke 21:25)
… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which
are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)
… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy
3:1)
Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of
grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from
throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the
intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of
severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes,
typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual
places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records
everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This
list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and
massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this
Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are
familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like
a woman having labor pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size and duration.
A deadly fungal infection that spreads through dust is on the rise in the southwestern US, and scientists warn the north may be next
Gabby Landsverk INSIDER•September 25, 2019
Droughts and dust storms have been spreading a potentially fatal fungal infection known as valley fever across southwestern states like Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California.
A now, new data shows the disease could spread even farther than scientists thought possible in the next century, according to research published August 30 in GeoHealth.
To come to their conclusion, researchers from the University of California, Irvine, used existing data of valley fever cases to create a model of what conditions were best for the fungus. They determined the temperature and rain levels in which the disease was most likely to occur, testing their predictions against CDC data for accuracy. They then calculated how far those conditions were likely to spread, as climate change drives a trend toward hotter, drier weather.
The study predicted that valley fever cases could increase by as much as 50% by the year 2100, and the area it affects could double.
The fungus could also spread from the 12 states it currently occupies to over 15, the research found, with almost a 115% increase in the number of counties affected. This could mean as many as 35,000 potential cases each year, 50% more than the current annual average.
Valley fever feels like the flu, and can be deadly
Coccidioidomycosis, known as valley fever, is an infection caused by inhaling spores of Coccidioides fungus, which is found in soil.
Not everyone who inhales the spores will get sick, but about 40% of people develop flu-like symptoms. Around 1 in 10 patients can have serious side effects, including permanent lung damage. In rare cases, valley fever can be fatal if it spreads to other areas of the body like the skin, joints, or spinal cord.
It isn’t contagious, but the spores are spread by wind and weather, particularly in hot, dry climates.
But recently, valley fever has been discovered in unexpected places. Several illnesses were identified as valley fever in Washington, 700 miles north of the San Joaquin Valley where the fungus is endemic. Spores were found in the soil in that area as well as an Oregon, both farther north than scientists thought the fungus could travel.
“We’re not sure if it’s already spreading or if it’s just in places we didn’t know to look for it,” lead author Morgan Gorris, researcher and former graduate student at UC Irvine, told Insider.
Her model found that cases of the disease are at their highest in an average temperature of 50 degrees and annual rainfall of 600 millimeters. If that doesn’t seem like very hot weather, it’s because the number is average over the course of days (including during the cooler evening hours) and throughout the year (even in winter months).
What it means is that areas as far north as five states; Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and the Dakotas could eventually become hosts to the fungus. Almost 500 American counties would be within range of the disease, potentially exposing as many as 80 million people to the spores.
But there’s still hope — even slightly slowing climate change could limit valley fever’s spread
But it may not be too late to slow the increase in infections, Gorris said.
These assumptions are based on the current rate of climate change, she said. If humans are able to reduce the speed of global warming, the spread of valley fever would be much less significant, the model predicts.
“The numbers we talked about are for a high climate warming scenario, where we do not decrease greenhouse gas emmissions,” Gorris said. “There are things people can do — reducing gas emissions and limiting climate change, the area endemic for valley fever won’t extend as far north.”
Gorris said her work is intended to help people understand and prepare for the threat of this under-studied disease. The research team also tested the model under scenarios where climate change was slowed, and found the spread of the disease was significantly reduced.
“The message that we want to send is one of awareness, not worry,” she said. “You can’t tell people to stop breathing.”