China: Infectious diseases kill 1167 in January

A total of 488,271 cases of infectious diseases were reported on the Chinese mainland in January, leaving 1,167 people dead, the Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed on Thursday. Of these cases, 2,319 Influenza A (H1N1) cases were reported last month, leaving nine people dead, according to a statement from the MOH. Some 1,147 of the deaths were caused by Class-B diseases. Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery and gonorrhea accounted for 95 percent of all the Class-B cases, the statement said. No Class-A infectious diseases such as plague and cholera were reported in January, it added. Last month saw 188,918 cases of Class-C diseases such as hand-foot-mouth disease reported. These left 20 people dead.