Infectious diseases kill 1,271 in China in January

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.

Class-C infectious diseases claimed 10 lives, with infectious diarrhea, foot-and-mouth disease and influenza contributing the most cases.