IL6 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: This infection leads to an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the destruction of inflamed lung tissues, and an overwhelming inflammatory response, known as the “cytokine storm,” releasing numerous cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and other cytokines, which have been linked to fatal outcomes in humans (Subbarao et al., 1998; Ku and Chan, 1999; Chan, 2002; de Jong et al., 2006; Kash et al., 2006; Xu et al., 2006; Kobasa et al., 2007; Kawachi et al., 2009; Uyeki, 2009; Zhou and He, 2009; Li et al., 2010).