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 in Pakistan indicated the virus' presence in eight urban areas, a setback officials attributed primarily to vaccine refusal. Critics of vaccination in Pakistan initiated a series of attacks in April that resulted in the death of a vaccinator and two security men, while false rumors and hoax videos claiming vaccine toxicity also hindered vaccination efforts there. A wild poliovirus originating from Pakistan spread to Iran, where it was detected in several environmental samples.