Secreted/cell bound poxvirus proteins and methods of use thereof as vaccines and anti-viral agents

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a humanized isolated antibody or functional fragment thereof immunologically specific for a viral interferon α/β binding protein, contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier suitable for passive immunization into a human subject, said antibody cross reacting with and blocking the activity of an interferon α/β binding protein from a pox virus selected from the group consisting of monkey pox virus (MPXV), variola virus (VARV) and ectromelia virus (ECTV).