Given the important role inflammatory cytokines and chemokines play in both influenza‐induced morbidity and mortality18 and recovery from influenza virus infection,19 we subsequently examined the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines RANTES, IL‐12, MIP1‐β, TNF‐α, MIP‐1α, MCP1, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ in the lungs using a cytokine beads array kit (CBA). This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and influenza.