Moderna Shares Rise Amid Surge in Flu Cases

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Moderna Shares Rise Amid Surge in Flu Cases

Investing.com -- Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and CureVac (NASDAQ:CVAC) stocks are rising in pre-market trading on Tuesday, following a significant increase in seasonal flu cases in the U.S. Moderna's stock rose by 3.4%, while CureVac's shares expanded yesterday's gains with a 5% increase.

This upward trend in biotech stocks is occurring amid broader gains in the vaccine sector. Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX) and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) are also experiencing increases of 7.3% and 1.2%, respectively. This rally follows a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicating an uptick in flu activity across most regions of the country, with significant rises noted in both influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses.

The CDC's latest figures point to a concerning trend; 18.7% of clinical laboratory tests are returning positive for influenza, marking an increase from the previous week. Visits for outpatient respiratory illnesses have also risen to 6.8%, maintaining a national-level increase for five consecutive weeks.

In addition to the impact of seasonal flu, the market's attention has been drawn to the first reported case of death from avian influenza in the U.S. Confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health, this case involved an individual over 65 years old with pre-existing medical conditions, who contracted the virus through exposure to a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.

The CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccinations for everyone aged six months and older, emphasizing the importance of rapid antiviral treatments, especially for those at higher risk of severe illness. With at least 5.3 million flu cases, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths attributed to the flu this season, the health agency is closely monitoring other respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and RSV, alongside the flu.

Investors seem to be assessing the increased demand for vaccines and treatments likely to continue as the season progresses due to ongoing high flu activity. The market's response to these developments reflects the critical role vaccine developers play in public health, particularly during times of elevated disease prevalence.

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