Final answer:
Diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and malaria can rapidly expand their range through mosquito vectors. Global travel and climate change play significant roles in increasing the range of these vectors, aiding the spread of these diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diseases West Nile virus infection, dengue fever, and malaria could most rapidly expand their range over a large geographic area through vectors such as mosquitoes. These vectors are organisms that carry pathogens from one host to another, and due to their mobility and breeding patterns, they can quickly spread these diseases across different regions. Factors like modern modes of transportation and rising global temperatures also contribute to the spread of diseases by increasing the range and lifecycle of disease-carrying insects.
West Nile virus was introduced to the United States through an infected traveler, demonstrating how easily disease can spread via global travel. Additionally, the warming climate is expected to spread vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever to new parts of the world as mosquitoes carrying these pathogens are no longer limited by cold temperatures that previously prevented their eggs from surviving.