World Health Assembly declares smallpox eradicated

The story includes Louise and Lesley Brown as well as the clinicians Steptoe and Edwards.

The international conference ran from 6 to 12 September and issued a declaration on primary health care.

Its declaration presented accessible primary health care as central to achieving health for all.

The declaration emphasized participation by people in planning and implementing their own health care.

The conference connected health with equity, development and action beyond medical services.

The declaration recognized contributions by local health services and communities across many countries.

Variolation predated vaccination by centuries; later vaccine technology and worldwide organizing finally ended natural smallpox transmission.

The 8 May declaration concerned global disappearance of naturally occurring cases, not elimination of laboratory virus stocks.

The international code addressed marketing practices for infant formula and other substitutes.

The code sought to protect breastfeeding while recognizing appropriate use of substitutes.