Human beings:

A formalin-inactivated vaccine is available for persons traveling to endemic areas, or for those who work in regular contact with rodents. To date, however, this vaccine has not been routinely recommended for veterinarians. A live attenuated vaccine specifically designed to prevent pneumonic plague is also available, but retains some virulence, and is, thus, not widely used. Alternative attenuated strains and subunit vaccines are being developed because of the risk of plague as a biological weapon.

Animals:

A plague vaccine for cats is currently being developed commercially in the U.S. However, given the limited geographic distribution of plague in the U.S., it is unlikely that this will become part of the "core" feline vaccination regime nationwide. It would, however, be a welcome addition to plague control in the Western and Southwestern U.S., and would help to reduce transmission of Y. pestis to veterinarians and their staff.

There is also interest in developing a vaccine for endangered black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs. Both are quite sensitive to Y. pestis infection. In addition, plague among prairie dogs is a significant impediment to successful re-introductions of the ferrets. This is because the prairie dogs serve as not only a major prey food source for the ferrets, but they also share their tunnel homes with the ferrets. During the summer of 2000, tens of thousands of prairie dogs died of plague in the western U.S., and another outbreak occurred in Colorado in 2002.

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