** Shares of Moderna MRNA.O rise 16% to nearly one-month high of $56.32

** Stock set for its best percentage gain in over 2 months, if gains hold

** An analyst on Thursday said the sentiment could be related to hantavirus, a rodent-borne virus that can infect people and cause illness

** Moderna signed a research agreement in 2023 with Korea University to develop an mRNA-based vaccine for hantavirus

** With regards to current headlines, we see no meaningful revenue opportunity, Evercore analysts said on Thursday

** Brokerage added hantavirus is a low-incidence, structurally small market, and views any potential outsized moves as sentiment driven, not fundamental

** More than 6.57 mln shares traded, about 1.1 times their 25-day moving average of 5.77 mln

** Including session's moves, stock up 88% YTD