Rift Valley fever virus, a zoonotic arbovirus, poses major health threats to livestock and humans if introduced into the United States. White-tailed deer, which are abundant throughout the country, might be sentinel animals for arboviruses. We determined the susceptibility of these deer to this virus and provide evidence for a potentially major epidemiologic role.
Keywords: Odocoileus virginianus; RVFV; Rift Valley fever virus; United States; arbovirus; epidemiology; livestock; susceptibility; viruses; white-tailed deer; zoonoses.