Scrub typhus in Himalayas.

Himachal Pradesh state of India is situated in the outer Himalayan ranges. During the rainy season, several cases of acute febrile illness of unknown origin occurred. Orientia tsutsugamushi was identified as the causative agent by microimmunofluorescence and PCR.

Kala-Azar at high altitude.

Kala-azar or Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease of low altitude (approximately 500 meters mean sea level). In India, however cases have been reported from sub-Himalayan region (350-960 meters MSL) of Kumaon region of Uttaranchal. We present two patients of VL, natives of tribal district of Kinnnaur (2000-3000 meters MSL), Himachal Pradesh, who had never visited known endemic area for Leishmaniasis.