On February 10, the Ministry of Health released information on infectious diseases across the country for January 2007.

A total of 300,261 categories A and B infection cases were reported nationwide (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) with 479 deaths.

Cases reported covered all 22 types of infectious diseases within categories A and B except for plague, cholera, SARS, poliomyelitis, and diphtheria.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) topped the list of the most frequently reported illnesses, followed by hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea, and dysentery. Altogether they accounted for 87.22 percent of reported cases.

Rabies was at the top of the list of the deadliest infectious diseases, followed by TB, hepatitis B, AIDS, and cerebrospinal meningitis. They accounted for 83.72 percent of deaths.

A total of 72,542 cases of category C infectious diseases were reported with 16 deaths. There was no report of filariasis. Infectious diarrhea, mumps, and influenza were the three most reported illnesses accounting for 95.97 percent in this category.

(Ministry of Health, February 10, 2007)