What or Who Are You Calling a Plague?

Why am I discussing plagues? We have climbed our way out of the dark ages and horibble outbreaks no longer happen. Good for us. Why they are of no particular interest to a Christian woman is because God's WRATH is displayed three ways: Famine, Earthquakes, and PLAGUES. Don't worry. Their dramatic increase only happens when the world is ending. Other than that, they are NOT FREQUENT. I've blogged about earthquakes and famine. Now for the last one in God's arsonal of judgement and wrath: PLAGUES. Plagues have afflicted humanity for at least 5,000 years. Genetic evidence shows the Yersinia pestis bacteria—the pathogen behind bubonic and pneumonic plagues—existed in Eurasian human remains as early as 3000 B.C.. 

The First Pandemic (541–750 CE): Known as the [Plague of Justinian] swept through the Roman Empire and the Mediterranean Basin, returning in multiple waves over two centuries. 

The Second Pandemic (14th Century): The devastating Black Death originated in Central Asia and arrived in Europe via trading ships in 1347. It wiped out an estimated one-third of Europe's population. 

The Third Pandemic (1855–1960s): Originating in China's Yunnan province, this wave spread across the globe on steamships, eventually claiming millions of lives, mostly in India and China.

Untreated pneumonic and septic plague historically had a near-100% mortality rate. Both are severe, advanced forms of the plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Pneumonic Plague: This form attacks the lungs and is highly contagious. It spreads when an infected person coughs respiratory droplets into the air, which others inhale. In the absence of early antibiotic treatment, it is almost universally fatal. In absolute numbers, COVID-19 caused MORE DEATHS GLOBALLY, but the bubonic plague (Black Death) was significantly more severe in terms of its lethality, mortality rate, and immediate societal devastation.

The Bubonic Plague (The Black Death) Death Toll: Estimated 75 to 200 million deaths.Mortality Rate: Untreated, the case fatality rate approached 50% to 90%. COVID-19, Death Toll: Credible estimates place the worldwide death toll between 17 and 36 million. Mortality Rate: The overall global infection fatality rate was less than 1%.

A highly contagious stomach bug known as Norovirus is seeing a large spike in activity across the United States, including communities in Southern California. Additionally, respiratory viruses like Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and COVID-19 remain actively circulating. Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne virus that poses a significan threat to unvaccinated individuals.

In the United States, plague activity remains highly localized and rare, averaging about seven cases annually. Cases typically emerge in the rural foothills and mountains of the southwestern United States and California. California: Cases have surfaced in wilderness and recreational areas like South Lake Tahoe and the Angeles National Forest. New Mexico: Sporadic cases have also been detected, including reports from Rio Arriba County and Santa Fe County. Safety & Prevention: The plague is maintained in wild rodent populations and transmitted via fleas. The CDC Plague Maps and Statistics outline at-risk regions. When caught early, it is highly treatable with antibiotics. Arizona: A confirmed case of the plague was reported in Apache County, Arizona.

Health experts track several other circulating infectious diseases and viral threats: Respiratory Illnesses: The U.S. CDC noted high nationwide burdens driven by moderately severe Influenza A (H3N2) and COVID-19. Track active trends via the CDC Respiratory Illness Data Channel. Mpox: Clade I and Clade II mpox variants have spread globally, with sporadic cases reported in the U.S. in individuals without travel history to Africa. Hantavirus: A multi-country cluster of the Andes hantavirus was confirmed aboard a South American cruise ship, requiring international monitoring. Tropical Viruses: The Oropouche virus and Dengue have seen spikes in travel-related cases due to rising global temperatures and expanded mosquito habitats. *Swarm in Israel below.*

I loop PESTILENCE IN WITH PLAGUES, because insects are a plague to people. They lead to death also. The 2025–2026 period saw a massive resurgence in invasive pests and insect-borne diseases, largely driven by climate change and unusually mild winters. Entomologists point to several major regional and global outbreaks impacting both ecosystems and agriculture. *Israel's locust plague below*

United States: Spongy Moth (California): Milder winters facilitated the rapid spread of spongy moths into Northern and Southern California. The larvae feed on over 300 plant species, causing extensive forest defoliation and property value drops. Ticks & Mosquitoes (Northeast & Midwest): High humidity and warming trends caused tick populations (blacklegged and Lonestar) to surge by 30-40%. Minnesota saw cattail mosquito populations hit a five-year high, quadrupling previous years' counts. Plague Activity (West): The bacteria Yersinia pestis (spread by fleas on wild rodents) saw increased tracking and human cases throughout areas like New Mexico. *Stolbur Disease on plant below.*

Global Outbreaks: Stolbur Disease (Germany): The reed glass-winged cicada—a vector for a highly destructive plant disease—thrived in the warming climate of central Europe, severely threatening domestic potato and vegetable harvests. Leafhopper Plagues (South America): Devastating leafhopper plagues heavily impacted corn yields in Argentina and Brazil, leading to widespread shifts in agricultural planting patterns. Locust Swarms (Ukraine & East Africa): Annual locust swarms became a recurring agricultural crisis in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, while East Africa continued to battle multi-generational desert locust plagues. *Desert Locust below.*

Places who have been swarmed already with more increased insect activity expected globally. Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East: Billions of desert locusts regularly swarm in these regions, consuming all green vegetation in their path. In recent years, severe outbreaks driven by unusual rainfall have devastated crops and pastures in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. India and Pakistan: These countries face periodic invasions of the desert locust. Massive swarms move across the subcontinent, causing multi-billion-dollar agricultural losses by stripping staple grains and cash crops.

North American Forests (USA & Canada): Millions of acres of temperate and boreal forests are periodically decimated by native defoliators like the spruce budworm and Douglas-fir tussock moth. Significant forest outbreaks are heavily documented in eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario) and the US Pacific Northwest. US Coastal Wetlands: In the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana, a major outbreak of the invasive Phragmites scale insect has severely damaged stands of Roseau cane, which is vital for binding fragile marsh soils. Invasive Forest Pests (Global): Pests like the emerald ash borer (native to Asia) have killed tens of millions of ash trees across North America and Eastern Europe. Additionally, the mountain pine beetle has caused widespread devastation in lodgepole pine forests across the Rocky Mountains. Now let's look at the newest critter on the scene, the New World Screwworm.

When people talk about a "flesh-eating bug," they are usually referring to Necrotizing Fascilitis (a severe bacterial infection that destroys the tissue beneath the skin) or the New World Screwworm (a parasitic fly larva). Both conditions are medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment. 

New World Screwworm (Flesh-Eating Parasite). The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly larva that feeds exclusively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. The Culprits: Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or moist body openings (ears, nose, mouth). When they hatch, the larvae burrow into healthy tissue and feed on it. Outbreaks: While historically eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, the USDA has occasionally confirmed isolated cases in U.S. livestock (such as in Texas). Human infections are extremely rare, but they pose a risk primarily to those in close contact with infested animals. Symptoms: A wound that won't heal, foul-smelling discharge, and extreme pain caused by the larvae tearing into the flesh. *Botfly below.

Flies that lay larvae which live and grow inside living flesh cause a condition known as myiasis. The most common culprits are botflies (especially the human botfly), screwworms, and tumbu flies. The larvae grow by feeding on living tissue until they are mature enough to emerge. Screwworms are severe flesh-eating parasite that lays eggs in open wounds or body openings. Unlike normal maggots, their larvae eat healthy living tissue. While eradicated in the U.S. in the 1980s, sporadic cases in still emerged. *Screwworm larvae below

The screwworm fly lays eggs in open wounds; the hatching maggots feed on live flesh. Location: They are typically found in Central and South America. However, cases have been detected in Texas and New Mexico, with officials warning about the fly crossing the border from Mexico. And don't forget other natural phenomenon. Beef prices expected to go up because of this 'screw you worm', more hungry families living without buying beef. Add the headlines about diseases returning on a large scale and CLIMATE CHANGES causes warmer temps needed for a larger than usual insect swarm covering mor area globally.

Screwworms were eliminated from North America primarily using the Sterile Insec Technique (SIT). Because female screwworm flies mate only once in their lifetime, scientists bred millions of male flies in captivity, sterilized them using radiation, and dropped them from airplanes to flood the wild population. The eradication effort was carried out in several phases: *Sterile fly below.*

The Panama Barrier: The campaign advanced through Central America and eventually established a permanent biological barrier at the Darien Gap in Panama, where sterile flies are continually dropped to prevent re-infestation from South America.

Expansion into Mexico: To prevent migration from the south, a joint U.S.-Mexico eradication program pushed the fly populations out of Mexico by the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

The U.S. Campaign: The method was first successfully tested on the island of Curaçao and then scaled to the U.S., resulting in the complete eradication of the pest in the southeastern U.S. by 1959 and the southwestern U.S. by 1966. *Screwwom larvae and fly below*

Outbreaks: The Southwest continually battled Mexican-origin outbreaks, with Texas experiencing 90,000 confirmed cases in 1972. Though aggressive campaigns like "Mission '77" greatly reduced numbers, Texas continued to report active infestations right into the early 1980s.

The term "emergence of new insects" can refer to the annual hatching of localized population (like cicadas), the spread of INVASIVE species (such as the spotted laternfly or yellow-legged hornet), or the specific discovery of previously unknown insect species. *Two-Spotted Leafhopper below*

The emergence and spread of insects are driven by several key factors: Climate Shifts: Warmer winters and extended seasonal temperatures allow insects to expand their geographic ranges further north and survive at higher rates than in previous decades.  Global Travel and Trade: Invasive insects frequently travel across oceans via international shipping crates, agricultural shipments, and imported plant life, leading to rapid infestations in new environments. Annual Broods: Regions frequently experience periodic insect surges—such as massive multi-state cicada emergences or seasonal tick population booms—which are heavily influenced by environmental variables like soil temperature, humidity, and food sources. Scientific Discovery: Entomologists discover dozens of new insect species every year, many identified from museum collections or remote field expeditions that utilize advanced DNA testing to separate similar species. 

Where I live, Mississippi, there has been several new invasive insects discovered. Newly discovered and spreading invasive insects threaten agriculture and forestry across Mississippi. Recent detections include the Emerald Ash Borer, Two-Spotted Leafhopper, and Rice Delphacid. In the southern and central parts of the state, the highly destructive Formosan Subterranean Termite also continues to expand its reach.

High-Priority Invasives in Mississippi

• Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis): Recently confirmed in Issaquena County, this aggressive, wood-boring beetle native to Asia attacks and kills all species of ash trees. 
• Two-Spotted Leafhopper (Sophonia orientalis): Confirmed in Hinds, Noxubee, Neshoba, Oktibbeha, and Forrest counties, this invasive cotton pest causes severe leaf discoloration (known as "hopper burn") and premature leaf drop on agricultural and ornamental plants like hibiscus and okra. 
• Rice Delphacid (Tagosodes orizicolus): First detected in Mississippi rice fields in late 2025, this tiny planthopper feeds on plant sap and transmits a debilitating virus that prevents the development of rice grains.

Ongoing Threats to Watch

• Formosan Subterranean Termites: Known for massive spring swarms that blanket communities in south and central Mississippi, this invasive species is more aggressive and reproduces more rapidly than native termites, posing a major risk to residential structures. 
• Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula): While not yet an established crisis in Mississippi, this destructive planthopper is actively spreading across the South and East Coast. It attacks over 100 plant species, severely impacting grape, peach, and apple crops. 
  
• I've blogged about the TRIFECTOR of PUNISHMENT as outline in the Book of Revelation of The Christian Bible. Believe WHAT you may. Plagues have always been a part of history and DID serve as a WARNING to REPENT.