Upon viral infection, host innate immune sensors, including Toll-like receptors, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), retinoic-acid-inducible protein I (RIG-I) and melanoma-differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5), can be activated to produce type I IFNs and cytokines that limit viral replication and dissemination. Here, IFIH1 is linked to viral infectious disease.