The incidence of measles from January to April in China this year has hit a five-year record high, said the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH).
  
According to a monthly report released by the MOH on Tuesday, 29,041 cases of measles were reported, causing 12 deaths. This was a 157.27 percent increase from the same period last year and an 84.55 percent increase from March.
 
The ministry urged local authorities to implement and step up regular immunization and prevention procedures, particularly in primary and middle schools in some areas of south China where a few epidemics had previously occurred this year.
  
Also according to Tuesday's report, tuberculosis (TB), rabies, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS and cerebrospinal meningitis were the top five deadly diseases, responsible for 84.59 percent of deaths from disease.
  
In addition, flu-related deaths last month were down 51.6 percent year-on-year with 5,925 reported cases.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)