Tuberculosis was the most common infectious disease on the Chinese mainland in May, while rabies remained the top killer. 

The news comes from China's Health Ministry in a monthly surveillance report released Thursday.

Tuberculosis, hepatitis B, dysentery, gonorrhea and measles were the top five most common diseases.

Rabies, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and AIDS were the major causes of death.

127 of the 200 people reported as contracting rabies died last month.

A total of more than 300 thousand cases of infectious diseases were reported in May on the Chinese mainland with close to 480 deaths.

(CRI.com June 11, 2004)