US Records First Human Bird Flu Death, High Levels Of Respiratory Illnesses: Vaccine Stocks Rally

The Louisiana Department of Health on Monday reported the first human death in the U.S. related to the H5N1 bird flu virus. The CDC is also reporting high levels of acute respiratory illnesses nationwide. 

The Details: The Louisiana Department of Health said the patient, who was over the age of 65 and had underlying health conditions, had been hospitalized since December after contracting the virus following  exposure to a backyard flock and wild birds. 

The CDC released an update on the bird flu situation on Monday that said there have been 66 confirmed cases in the U.S. in the 2024 outbreak. The agency is monitoring for H5 bird flu activity in people and said the public health risk remains low at this time. 

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Additionally, other acute respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, influenza and RSV are at high levels and are increasing nationwide, according to the CDC's respiratory illness data channel. 

Vaccine Makers: Shares of vaccine-related stocks are trading higher following the latest bird flu developments, as well as the rise in acute respiratory illnesses. 

Moderna, Inc. MRNA manufactures an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine and its pipeline includes combination vaccines targeting COVID-19, RSV and flu. Moderna received a $176 million government contract in July to advance development of its bird flu vaccine, leveraging the same mRNA technology used in the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.  

Shares of Novavax, Inc. NVAX are also climbing. Novavax has a bird flu vaccine in clinical trials in addition to a COVID-19-influenza combination vaccine in late-stage clinical trials. 

CureVac N.V. CVAC shares rose 22% on Monday and are climbing again Tuesday. The company has started a phase I/II study on its bird flu vaccine developed in collaboration with GSK plc GSK. CureVac also has an agreement with GSK to develop second-generation influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. 

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