In the 14th century, the bubonic and pneumonic plagues devastated populations across Asia, Russia, Persia, Turkey, North Africa, and Europe, claiming as many as one-third of the European population. Amidst this catastrophe, the Jewish physician Balavignus recognized the role of poor sanitation in spreading disease and initiated a clean-up and quarantine movement among the Jews. Consequently, rats left the Jewish ghettos for non-Jewish areas, resulting in a Jewish mortality rate from the plague that was only 5% of their neighbors'. Despite this success, the general population accused the Jews of causing the plague, leading to widespread persecution. Quarantine involves separating the infected from the community to prevent the spread of disease. Historically, infected individuals were expected to live outside the community until all contagious symptoms subsided, often signaling their condition with warnings like "Unclean! Unclean!" to keep others at a distance. Today, while we don't need to announce our illnesses in the same way, the principle remains to isolate ourselves when sick, especially from communal gatherings like Sabbath services or God's Feasts. Attending such events while contagious disregards the health of others and can spread illness. Quarantine is not a stigma but a protective measure and an act of love. It is crucial to take precautions and quarantine at the first sign of illness, without waiting for confirmation, as delay can lead to further spread. We must avoid self-diagnosing serious conditions and ensure accurate identification of symptoms to decide on appropriate quarantine measures. Observing signs like contagious nasal discharges, rashes, sores, itches, and high temperatures in ourselves and our children is essential. Even if symptoms might be due to allergies, we must confirm the cause to avoid mistakenly spreading illness. As a community, we should model cleanliness, hygiene, and adherence to quarantine practices. Staying home when sick, seeking anointing and prayer from a church elder, and not attending services or fellowship while contagious are ways to show love and sacrifice. This approach reflects giving in a meaningful way by protecting others from illness and maintaining a healthy environment for all. We must use wisdom to balance the desire to be present at services with the responsibility to follow God's health laws regarding quarantine.

The threat of disease is real, and with the increasing headlines about outbreaks like Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and others, provisions are underway in the United States for mandatory quarantine, even for healthy Americans, in the event of a pandemic. Western governments are issuing alerts to doctors to watch for symptoms of diseases like Ebola, especially after cases of infected individuals traveling through major hubs. The World Health Organization has called the current Ebola outbreak the worst on record, with situations deemed out of control by Doctors Without Borders. Reports indicate that even healthy individuals who show no symptoms could be forcibly detained under quarantine measures if Ebola hits the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has procedures backed by the force of law to manage such outbreaks, utilizing isolation and quarantine as primary strategies. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to monitor if they become ill, limiting the spread of the disease. Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases, with daily functions delegated to the CDC. Quarantining involves creating detainment facilities where people suspected of infection or exposure are forcibly detained and not allowed to leave. The Department of Defense announced in April the development of Ebola detection kits, distributed to National Guard support teams across all 50 states in preparation for potential outbreaks. Stringent regulations have raised fears of massive abuse of power by the federal government and the imposition of martial law during a health crisis. Legislation like the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, adopted in whole or in part by at least 33 states, grants expanded police powers to force quarantine, medical examinations, vaccinations, and treatments for suspected individuals, as well as control over public and private property during emergencies. Recent amendments to executive orders further allow the detention of Americans showing signs of respiratory illnesses, heightening concerns about overreach in response to pandemics.

Quarantine has been an effective method for isolating and halting the spread of contagious diseases for millennia. During the 14th century, bubonic plagues devastated populations, but the Jewish physician Balavignus noted that improved sanitation reduced mortality rates significantly among the Jews, demonstrating the value of preventive measures. Later, in the 13th to 16th centuries, leprosy plagued Europe, and countries like Norway, Finland, and Sweden saw success through enforced segregation, with Norway reducing leprosy cases to 5% of previous numbers after ninety years of rigid national quarantine starting in 1856. The United States Center for Disease Control defines quarantine as isolating individuals who have or are suspected of having a disease, or protecting those who do not have a disease during an outbreak, either voluntarily or by order of public health officials in emergencies. Despite its proven effectiveness, quarantine is often a lost principle of health today, ignored by many in the general populace, limiting its impact due to a lack of genuine concern for others. In Leviticus 13, God gave the Israelites health laws through Moses to combat disease spread, using leprosy as an example for any contagious illness. A priest would inspect the sick, impose quarantine, and reinspect at seven-day intervals for improvement. The infected were to live outside the camp, wear torn clothes, cover their mouths, and cry 'Unclean! Unclean!' to warn others, ensuring separation from the community. Numbers 5:1-3 further commands the Israelites to put out of the camp every leper, carrier of infectious illness, or anyone defiled, to maintain purity among God's dwelling. Quarantine extends beyond physical disease to spiritual impurity, where infectious ideas or heresy must be guarded against and avoided, akin to isolating a contagious illness, to preserve the sanctity of God's people.