Treatment Unless promptly treated plague may have a mortality rate of nearly 50%, pneumonic plague, nearly 100%0 The drug of choice is streptomycin, but gentamicin is also as effective Dooxycycline is an alternative drug and is sometimes given in combination with streptomycinTreatment • Unless promptly treated, plague may have a mortality rate of nearly 50%; pneumonic plague, nearly 100%. • The drug of choice is streptomycin, but gentamicin is also as effective. • Dooxycycline is an alternative drug and is sometimes given in combination with streptomycin