People who are exposed to an individual with pneumonic plague require antibiotics for seven days, in order to prevent the disease.

Recommendations:

• Prophylactic antibiotics should be given to those who have been exposed to rodent fleas during a plague outbreak.
• Prophylactic antibiotic therapy is recommended for persons who have handled an animal that is infected with the plague.
• Prophylactic antibiotic therapy is recommended for persons who have had close exposure to a person or an animal with plague pneumonia.
• Antibiotics for prophylaxis against plague:
• Doxycycline
• Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)