ACVPM Infectious Diseases Practice Exam

Rift Valley Fever virus relies on mosquitoes to move between animals and people, and the genus most closely linked to initiating outbreaks is Aedes. Aedes mosquitoes can transmit the virus and, crucially, lay desiccation-resistant eggs that can harbor the virus through dry periods. When rains return, these eggs hatch, producing infected mosquitoes that bite livestock and then humans, seeding spillover events. This vertical transmission and rapid emergence after rainfall make Aedes the standout vector for initiating RVF epidemics. While other genera like Culex can participate in transmission once the virus is circulating, the classic and most important association is with Aedes. Anopheles and Mansonia are not typical vectors for Rift Valley Fever.