Infectious diseases killed 1,271 people last month on the Chinese mainland, up 10 percent from the same period last year, according to official figures. A total of 497,479 cases were reported in January on the Chinese mainland, according to a statement released on Thursday by the National Health and Family Planning Commission. No cases of Class-A infectious diseases, which includes the plague and cholera, were reported. A total of 290,297 cases of Class-B infectious diseases were reported, leading to 1,261 deaths. Hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea and scarlet fever accounted for 94 percent of the cases in this category, Xinhua reported. Class-C infectious diseases claimed 10 lives, with infectious diarrhea, foot-and-mouth disease and influenza contributing the most cases.
