[Paradoxically, the mention of plague-infested cities and avoiding them seems to perk Pepper up a bit. The reason comes clear in her answer.]

If that's your worry, don't be -- go to the hospital and get yourself vaccinated. If that's not something your world has, the simplest explanation is that it's a treatment that will prevent you from getting sick. It's just recently been made up specifically for this disease, which is why it wasn't rolled out earlier.

Keep it quiet -- it will take them a few days to roll out enough for everyone -- but keeping people healthy who've never been sick is a priority.