The environment minister has warned that global warming could lead to a surge in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria as warmer climes improve breeding conditions.

Azmi Khalid said global warming would increase temperatures in areas where mosquitoes previously could not breed, exposing large populations to diseases such as malaria, dengue and encephalitis.

"Currently, about 45 percent of the global population live in high-risk areas, and with the increasing temperature and release of greenhouse gases, the figure may increase to 60 percent," he was quoted as saying in the Star newspaper.

Citing unspecified studies, the minister also warned of other health risks, with respiratory ailments and allergies expected to rise due to increased air pollutants, spores and dust.

Dengue outbreak

"In view of these problems, the ministry is taking a serious view of the issue which we are facing," he was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria are endemic in Malaysia.

The country is currently experiencing a dengue outbreak which has killed 19 people killed this year, with 7,806 cases of the disease recorded, according to Bernama.