This is the first study addressing the relation between EBV (re)activation and cytokine responses during acute Malaria, revealing a clear correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and EBV-DNA levels, specifically in P. falciparum cases, suggesting this cytokine to be key in dysregulating EBV homeostasis during acute P. falciparum Malaria. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is malaria.