Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV), is a mosquito-borne, zoonotic pathogen in genus Phlebovirus, family Phenuiviridae, order Bunyavirales that typically causes outbreaks in Africa and spread to the Arabian Peninsula in 2000. It has a high colonization capacity, is a potential emergent risk in Europe, Asia and the Americas due to the presence of competent vectors and is a bioterrorism/agroterrorism concern as it could be weaponized. Consequently, it is classified as a category A pathogen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in recognition of its potential for social disruption requiring significant public health preparedness and is the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s third most dangerous animal threat after avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease. In the U.S. RVFV is a Select Agent. All work with virulent RVFV must be conducted minimally at biosafety level 3 enhanced.
