New Delhi, June 12 -- Ebola is one of the world's most feared infectious diseases, known for causing severe illness and high death rates during outbreaks. The Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This rare strain is not affected by vaccines or treatments for the more common Zaire strain. Most cases are in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu in the DRC, with some in Kampala, Uganda.

The risk to travellers in Europe, Asia, and the Americas is very low, as transmission requires direct contact with bodily fluids. Yet despite its dangerous reputation, doctor...