• Question: Do you think the bubonic and pneumonic plague was preventable?

    Asked by Team Stony to Liz, Beccy on 22 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: anon

      anon answered on 22 Jun 2017:

      Antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin are used to treat plague. However, if treatment is not received within 24 hours of when the first symptoms occur, death can result.

      Some rodents in the US still have plague infection. The prevention advice involves reducing direct contact with rodents, using repellent when doing activities that might bring you into contact with (potentially plague-carrying) fleas, and even not letting your cat or dog share your bed if you live in an area where plague is relatively common.

      Here’s a super helpful website from the US Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/plague/index.html

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