BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The life expectancy of residents of the Chinese capital Beijing has reached an average 79.62 years, according to statistics from the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau on Tuesday.

    Deng Xiaohong, deputy head of the health bureau, said the average life expectancy last year for local men was 78.1 years old and for women 81.14.

    Beijing reported 59,342 cases of various infectious diseases last year, 42.8 percent less than the previous year. Diarrhea, hepatitis and tuberculosis were the top three, while SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which hit many Chinese provinces and cities early last year, ranked fifth.

    Beijing intensified its efforts to carry out hygiene and immunity work last year. Planned immunity covered 98 percent of local children and all newly-born babies in the city were given free inoculations against Hepatitis B.

    The city reported no cases of poliomyelitis, diphtheria or rabies last year.

    The city handled 55 poisoning cases involving 979 people in 2003. Only one person died.

    A city of 13 million, Beijing reported a death rate of 4.68 perthousand last year, with heart disease, cancer, respiratory systemdiseases, trauma and poisoning being the top five causes of death.Enditem