Eventually, on 18 January, 1988, came the launching ceremony, held as part of the 81st session of the Executive Board of WHO. There were four speakers: an introduction by Dr A. Grech, Chairman of the Executive Board; an introduction to the book by myself, as senior author; then a speech by Dr Mahler, Director-General of WHO; and closing remarks by Dr Grech. This ceremony was followed by a press conference, at which the speakers at the launch and the other authors were available to answer questions. Unfortunately, Dr Ladnyi, one of the authors, had died in 1987 as the result of a car accident.

The launch was followed that evening by a dinner arranged by the staff of the former Smallpox Eradication Unit, the demise of which, on 1 January, had been announced by the Director-General that afternoon. They had chosen one of the very pleasant restaurants that abound in the villages around Geneva. It was a Monday evening and there were few others than our group in the restaurant. I remember noticing a pile of cardboard boxes in one corner of the restaurant, near our table, but I thought nothing of it. Then, as the very pleasant and relaxed dinner drew to a close, Keith Wynn, who was in charge of production of WHO publications, started to open the boxes and pass around special leather-bound copies of the 'big red book'. Everyone at the dinner who had been involved with its production signed every copy and all received a copy. Years later, in 1997, I donated my copy to the Rare Books Collection in the ANU Library.