Can viral pneumonia kill you?

Yes: Good examples are severe RSV (respiratory syncyctial virus) and varicella (causative organism for chicken pox) pneumonia that lead to respiratory failure and fatality.

Sometimes: Most cases of viral pneumonia are relatively mild and resolve spontaneously. There are exceptions. Influenza pneumonia can cause a severe life threatening pneumonia even in otherwise healthy people. In patients whose immune system is compromised a more severe viral pneumonia can occur. This might be seen in those with hiv, after and organ transplant or after cancer chemotherapy.