Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) stock is trading higher on Friday in reaction to a surge in Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA).

Bloomberg noted that Moderna said it is conducting early-stage research into vaccines targeting hantaviruses, even as health experts suggest the virus linked to recent cruise ship deaths is unlikely to become a broader public health threat.

The COVID-19 vaccine maker confirmed it has been working with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on hantavirus vaccine research.

"These efforts are early-stage and ongoing and reflect Moderna's broader responsibility to develop countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases," the company told Bloomberg.

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