A 1981 code responds to marketing concerns

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.

The assembly adopted the code as a recommendation that countries could implement through national measures.

Institut Pasteur researchers published their first paper on the new human retrovirus in Science.

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi was central to the collaborative research reported on this date.

The paper supplied evidence for investigating the virus that became known as HIV.

Identifying and publishing the retrovirus supported later work on tests and medicines; effective treatment did not yet exist.

The assembly adopted a resolution committing to global eradication of poliomyelitis.