BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,409 people died as a result of infectious diseases on the Chinese mainland in February, official data showed Monday.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, there were 485,649 cases of infectious diseases reported on the mainland last month.

Nearly 279,000 cases were classified as Class B infectious diseases under China's Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, and they resulted in 1,397 deaths.

Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhoea and bacterial and amoebic dysentery accounted for 96 percent of cases in this category.

Category C diseases were responsible for more than 207,000 cases and 12 deaths. Infectious diarrhea, foot and mouth disease and influenza were the most prevalent in this category, accounting for 94 percent of cases.