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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been reported in the last decade from the hilly state of Uttarakhand, India. We report 47 cases from the non-endemic Garhwal region of this state which, over the last 10 years, were treated successfully. We conclude that the transmission cycle of VL is established in this region. Effective vector control measures are warranted to prevent the disease becoming a health problem, albeit not a major one given its excellent response to drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrub typhus is a commonly encountered rickettsial disease of the Indian subcontinent. Humans are infected accidentally and the case fatality can be significantly high if the disease is not identified in time. We report nine cases of scrub typhus from the Garhwal region of the newly created north Indian state of Uttarakhand, a region not previously known to harbour the vector. Entomological studies are needed to study the density of the vector and to institute vector control measures in order to prevent this relatively benign, yet potentially fatal, clinical entity from spiralling into a major public health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]