<p>The present invention is directed to an animal model for predicting the course of orthopox virus infections or for evaluating the efficacy of anti-viral therapeutics or anti-orthopox virus vaccines. The present invention is further directed to a method of evaluating the efficacy of an anti-viral therapeutic or an anti-orthopox virus vaccine and to a specific Callithrixpox virus strain for use in this method. Furthermore, the present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical composition containing such an anti-viral therapeutic or an anti-orthopox virus vaccine.</p>
