Rift Valley fever

noun

Definition of Rift Valley fever

: an acute, usually epizootic, mosquito-borne disease of domestic animals chiefly of eastern and southern Africa that is caused by a bunyavirus (species Rift Valley fever virus of the genus Phlebovirus), is marked especially by fever, abortion, and death of newborns, and is sometimes transmitted to humans usually in a milder form marked by flu-like symptoms

Origin and Etymology of rift valley fever

(Great) Rift Valley, Africa

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1931

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

Rift Valley fever

noun Rift Val·ley fever \ ˈrift-ˌval-ē- \

medical Definition of Rift Valley fever

: an acute usually epizootic mosquito-borne disease of domestic animals (as sheep and cattle) chiefly of eastern and southern Africa that is caused by a bunyavirus of the genus Phlebovirus (species Rift Valley fever virus), is marked especially by fever, abortion, death of newborns, diarrhea, and jaundice, and is sometimes transmitted to humans usually in a milder form marked by flulike symptoms