Whose literalist view?
When God made creation He said that it was good. Then man sinned, and God cursed the earth and caused man to die. Then God reduced Man's lifespan.
Nowhere does it say after man sinned, that there wouldn't be illness and death. It says there will be. It says God would send plagues (see the Bible on Sickness).
I don't know any literalist who says God made everything perfect and it continues in a perfect state...Oh except Deepak Chopak and he's not a Bible literalist. He's a hindu who says everthing is as it should be. Obviously he doesn't read the news.