Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is accompanied by the release of excessive amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines: interferon, TNF-alpha, interleukins 1beta, 6, 12, 18, 33, and others, which trigger a violent immune response against the lungs (causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)) and other organs (leading to multiple organ failure), which rapidly progress to death. Here, IL1B is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.