Infectious diseases claim 1,454 lives in October

A total of 574,404 cases of infectious diseases were reported on the Chinese mainland in October, resulting in 1,454 deaths, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Monday.

A total of 293,278 cases identified as Class B infectious diseases by the MOH were reported in October, of which 1,415 were fatal, the ministry said.

Class B infectious diseases include AIDS, tuberculosis and dysentery.

Hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery and gonorrhea were the top five killers, contributing to 96 percent of deaths from Class B infectious diseases.

Category C infectious diseases claimed 39 lives in October, with foot-and-mouth disease, infectious diarrhea and mumps reported the most frequently, according to the statement.

Sixteen cases of cholera, a Class A infectious disease, were reported, although no deaths were caused, the ministry said.