BEIJING-- The prevalence of major parasite infections in China is significantly lower thanks to improved hygiene and healthier lifestyles, according to the latest national survey on parasite infections.

The general prevalence of major parasite infections has dropped to below 6 percent and the prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections dropped over 80 percent from over a decade ago, the Health News reported this week, citing the survey by the National Health Commission.

The survey, conducted from 2014 to 2017, is the latest of three national polls on the subject. It covered 484,200 people in rural areas and 133,200 in urban areas.

However, the prevalence of parasite infections is still at a relatively high level in some areas of southwest China and the Pearl River Delta region mainly due to poor hygiene and the habit of eating raw meat, raw fish and drinking unboiled water.

Zhou Xiaonong, an official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said health authorities will step up education and take measures to improve the quality of drinking water and toilets.