Improvement in sanitation conditions and increased vaccinations in Beijing have steadily decreased threats of epidemic diseases in the past two decades.
Epidemic diseases on the whole were 25 percent less likely in the past five years than in 1991 and 1995. Hepatitis cases are about 48 percent less likely -- the rate in 1995 was 55.15 per 100,000.
The occurrence of diarrhea decreased some 21 percent in the past five years, the figure in 1995 was 231.93 per 100,000, and the number of tuberculosis patients was nearly 40 percent less in the past five years.
Also, scarlatina, measles and cerebrospinal meningitis incidences have been decreased by 90.4 percent, 95.94 percent and 88 percent respectively in the past decade from 1985 to 1995.
Besides, food poisoning and drinking water safety is also under control after two decades of efforts.
(Xinhua 01/16/2001)
