Modern Treatment

Figure 3

Although plague is almost unheard of in the United States, it is still a very real disease with epidemics continuing to occur in Africa, Asia, and South America. Of America's 50 States, only 4 (California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico) are still considered to be at risk of plague outbreaks.


Even with modern medicine, there is still a high rate of death in victims. Without treatment, about 50% of bubonic plague victims die as compared to near 100% of pneumonic plague victims. In the latter case, treatment reduces the rate to 50% which is still just the flip of a coin.


Today, treatment is generally handled with the antibiotics Streptomycin and Gentamicin. Alternate choices of medication are Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, or Chloramphenicol. (See figure 3 for doses.) In many cases, it is also necessarily to provide respiratory support to the victim.


Sources: A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, 2011. © 2011 A.D.A.M., Inc.
Figure 3: "Plague Treatment Chart" http://www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx?id=738