Environmental sampling in Pakistan showed the virus' presence in eight urban areas, a setback officials attributed primarily to vaccine refusal. Opponents to vaccination in Pakistan launched a series of attacks in April that left a vaccinator and two security men dead, while false rumors and hoax videos reporting vaccine toxicity also disrupted vaccination efforts there. Wild poliovirus of Pakistani origin also spread to Iran where it was detected in several environmental samples.
Environmental sampling revealed the virus' presence in eight urban areas of Pakistan; officials blamed this on vaccine refusal. Critics launched attacks in April that killed a vaccinator and two security personnel, while false rumors and hoax videos about vaccine toxicity disrupted vaccination efforts. Additionally, a wild poliovirus from Pakistani origin spread to Iran, detected in environmental samples.