While cytokines are produced during all stages of an immune response, by innate, adaptive, and even non-immune cells (e.g., epithelial cells), the pro-inflammatory triumvirate of Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) are amongst the first and most potent cytokines released during a viral infection. Here, TNF is linked to viral infectious disease.