The disease is caused by the RVF virus, generally found in regions of eastern and southern Africa, but also in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Bolezen povzroča virus mrzlice doline Rift, ki je običajno prisoten na območjih vzhodne in južne Afrike, prav tako pa v večini držav podsaharske Afrike, na Madagaskarju, v Savdski Arabiji in Jemnu.