Yes, both Aedes albopictus and Aedes egypti can spread dengue. So watch out for any striped mozzies! Both are believed to have been introduced here via import of tires. Distribution of both species is similar in the US.
The mozzies (vector) can only spread it if they have bitten a human or animal carrying the disease, so, actually, immigrants (or returning tourists) carrying the virus are needed.
Aedes albopictus can withstand colder temperatures, perhaps why it is the main vector for dengue in Europe, and it is feared it may the same in US.
My grandfather had malaria in Tennessee — so few people realize we had malaria here before DDT and flood control.
I had multi-drug resistant P. falciparum in SE Asia, so they gave me “toxic doses of quinine” to knock it out. The cure was worse than the disease and I was deaf for two weeks, but it wiped it out, no recurrences. Still not allowed donate blood, though.
Yes; international travel and commerce has caused the insects to spread; and I know that Zika, at least, has been shown to be passed from the female to the eggs. I’d be surprised if other viruses could not.
Plenty of people come to the US perfectly legally, and they could be carrying all sorts of things. (We had a case of Ebola some years ago.)
I am against illegal immigration; but I think we’d still have all of these diseases without it, unless we want to completely isolate ourselves from any international travel.
(My grandmother was still buying quinine to have on hand when she was old - you could still buy it it in the local grocery stores then).
“My grandfather had malaria in Tennessee — so few people realize we had malaria here before DDT and flood control.”
My maternal grandfather got malaria in Florida on his way to Cuba in 1898.