China reports nearly 2,000 deaths from contagious diseases in November

BEIJING -- A total of 1,958 people in the Chinese mainland died of diseases that are legally defined as contagious in November this year, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Altogether 577,247 cases of these diseases were reported in the mainland in the same month, the commission said.

Among the cases, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea and scarlet fever were reported the most, accounting for 93 percent of all the type B contagious diseases reported, according to the commission.

No type A contagious diseases, such as pestilence and cholera, were reported.

Among the type B diseases, no Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes (SARS), diphtheria or humans infecting with bird flu virus were reported, said the commission.

Among the type C diseases, hand-foot-and-mouth diseases, other contagious diarrhea and flu were the most reported.