IFNA1 and viral infectious disease: In a longitudinal study comparing cytokine levels in the peripheral blood with viral loads in nasopharyngeal swabs, the viral infection of patients suffering from moderate COVID-19 was effectively controlled within a week via early and strong but transient IFN production, while the viral infection was unable to be controlled in severe COVID-19 patients, who also displayed sustained production of IFNs, as well as proinflammatory cytokines [181].