Asthmatic patients are more susceptible than non‐asthmatic subjects to viral infection, due presumably to the upregulation of ICAM‐1 in the epithelium,11 decreased ICAM‐1 solubility,3 and impaired interferon response to viruses in the epithelium, alveolar macrophages, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which can compromise viral clearance.12, 13, 14, 15. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and viral infectious disease.