China reported 92 major infectious epidemics and food poisonings last month, none of which was induced by the prolonged snow which hit the southern part of the country, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

A total of 32 people died in the outbreaks on the Chinese mainland.

The number of public health incidents in January dropped by 55.77 percent from the previous month thanks to a sharp decrease in food poisoning cases, it said.

The death toll caused by infectious diseases in the snow-stricken areas showed no year-on-year increase in the past month, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)