China's Ministry of Health (MOH) is to include 10 cities and counties severely affected by AIDS in its third national survey on causes of death, which began in June and covers more than one million people.

A circular issued by the MOH said survey teams would be on the alert for pneumocistis, Koposi's sarcoma, crypotosporidia enteritis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis, drug abuse or suicide in the registered causes of death.

As these afflictions were commonly associated with HIV and AIDS sufferers, the teams would personally interview the deceased's family to establish whether HIV or AIDS had played a part in the cause of death.

The circular said every city or county involved in the survey should set up a professional team to take charge of the investigations.

Patterns of illness and death had changed over recent decades due to improved living and health conditions, so up-to-date information was needed to adjust disease control plans and the allocation of resources, said an MOH official.

The official said the survey would help public understanding of AIDS.

China conducted its first national survey on causes of death in the 1970s and the second in the 1990s.

The 10 new cities and counties are: Ruili city, Longchuan county and Gejiu city in Yunnan Province; Weishi county and Zhecheng county in Henan Province; Gu'an county in Hebei Province; Xishui county in Hubei Province; Lixin county in Anhui Province; Yangdong county in Guangdong Province; and Luzhai county in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)