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Vaccine Stocks Soar as CDC Reports First US Bird-Flu Death: Moderna, Novavax Jump 11%

HomeVaccine Stocks Soar as CDC Reports First US Bird-Flu Death: Moderna, Novavax Jump 11%

Vaccine Stocks Soar as CDC Reports First US Bird-Flu Death: Moderna, Novavax Jump 11%

Vaccine Stocks Soar as CDC Reports First US Bird-Flu Death: Moderna, Novavax Jump 11%

First Human Death from H5N1 Virus in the US: CDC Reports Low Risk of Transmission

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has confirmed the first human death in the country from the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu. Despite this alarming news, the CDC believes that the risk to the general public remains low due to a lack of evidence of human-to-human transmission. However, the regulatory body is taking all necessary precautions and using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5N1 activity, especially in people exposed to animals.

H5N1 Cases on the Rise: CDC Confirms 66 Human Cases

As of January 6th, the CDC confirmed 66 human cases of H5N1 virus in the country since the beginning of last year. In most of these cases, the patient experienced only mild symptoms such as eye redness, with some reports of fever and respiratory symptoms. The agency is closely monitoring these cases to determine if there are any underlying factors contributing to the spread of the virus.

Global Impact: Over 950 H5N1 Cases Reported

The World Health Organization has reported over 950 cases of H5N1 flu worldwide, with half of these resulting in death. This alarming number highlights the need for increased vigilance and preparedness in countries affected by the virus.

Vaccine Stocks Surge on CDC Report: Potential Demand for Bird Flu Vaccines

Shares of several vaccine makers, including Moderna (MRNA), Novavax (NVAX), BioNTech (BNTX), and CureVac (CVAC), surged on Tuesday as investors focused on the potential demand for vaccines targeting the H5N1 virus. Moderna and Novavax were the biggest gainers from this surge, soaring 11.7% and 10.9%, respectively.

Vaccine Development: Multiple Companies Working on Bird Flu Vaccines

Some of the vaccine makers mentioned above are already developing a vaccine for bird flu. Moderna is evaluating its mRNA-based bird flu vaccine (mRNA-1018) in an ongoing phase I/II study against H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. CureVac started a phase I/II study on its bird flu vaccine last year, while Novavax is conducting pre-clinical studies on a vaccine for H5N1 bird flu.

Impact of Bird Flu Transmission: Boost to Vaccine Stocks

The signs of potential bird flu transmission have provided some respite to these vaccine-focused stocks, especially to those who made COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine makers, especially Moderna and Pfizer, have been suffering a heavy beatdown in product sales and market value as COVID-19 cases have significantly dropped compared with the last couple of years.

Conclusion

The recent report by the CDC on the first human death from H5N1 virus has highlighted the need for increased vigilance and preparedness in countries affected by the virus. While the risk to the general public remains low, the regulatory body is taking all necessary precautions and using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5N1 activity. The surge in vaccine stocks suggests that investors are counting on these companies to lead the fight against another potential pandemic (if one does arise).