TNF and susceptibility to pneumonia measurement: The viral replication, in turn, triggers the activation of monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes resulting in the hyper inflammatory condition described as “cytokine storm” with the massive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, etc. This results in hyper inflammation of tissues and subsequent tissue fibrosis and pneumonia (4, 7, 10).