Health Crisis Hits Ashdod

Ashdod City hospitals were overwhelmed with people seeking relief from an outbreak of unexplained tumors. As of this moment there have been no deaths reported from this outbreak.  Many of the afflicted persons report great discomfort with doing the basic things in life such as sitting and standing. Some men have even taking to wearing veils on their faces because of the disfigurement caused by these tumors.

The chief medical officer  said that this crisis seemed to have started when the soldiers brought back a war trophy from Israel.  The only thing all of these people have in common is that they went to see this trophy. Another well respected doctor countered that speculating that looking at a war trophy caused this medical emergency was just a superstitious piece of mumbo jumbo. Laboratories around the region are racing to find the source of this medical dilemma.  When they find it  the next step would be to develop an effective antidote to this get rid of this plague. In the meantime the numbers continue to grow of people in need of medical attention. The city fathers are deciding if they should close the exhibit of this war trophy down until they determine the source of this outbreak.

In a related story

Rats have invaded the city of Ekron.  The cities of Ashdod and Gath also report that an unusually high number of these vermin have taken up residence in their cities. Scientists and meteorologists tell us that there is an unusual cold air flow from the north. This may account for the rats moving into the cities seeking a warm refuge. Residents are warned to keep all traces of food in stone jars with tight fitting lids. This follows the devastation the rats had on the wheat harvest earlier in the season. One horrified mother stepped into the house to see a rat playing near her baby’s basket.  Parents should keep an eye on their youngsters and these rats do not seem to have a fear of people.

Based on I Samuel Chapters 5 and 6