Moderna surged as investors turned eyed potential demand for a vaccine to protect against bird flu after the US reported its first death from the virus.

Shares of vaccine makers including Moderna, Novavax and CureVac rose Tuesday after U.S. health officials confirmed the first American death caused by the H5N1 bird flu. Moderna and Novavax shares rose more than 10%,

The company is one of a few drugmakers currently developing a vaccine for the illness, which is spreading rapidly through North America.

Moderna stock was on track to see a weekly gain of 10% as of Wednesday following the first reported bird flu death in the US.

The first bird-flu fatality in the United States sparks investor interest in several vaccine makers that are developing experimental H5N1 vaccines.

Jefferies sees Arbutus (ABUS) potentially benefitting from vaccines being developed by Moderna (MRNA) and Pfizer (PFE)/GSK (GSK) for H5N1 avian flu. Read more here.

The first bird-flu related death has been reported in the US, according to the Louisiana department of health, where the death occurred. The patient had been taken to hospital after contracting a major strain of bird flu,

The first person to have a severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.