Occupationally acquired mumps infection with complications of severe bilateral hearing loss in a healthcare worker: resurgence of a vaccine-preventable disease
1
Occupational Medicine Division and Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Health workers are exposed to mumps infection during high-risk work and are particularly vulnerable if unvaccinated. Recent mumps outbreaks in Southern Africa have raised alarm about the effectiveness of public health measures to protect health workers.
METHODS:
A case report is presented of a healthcare worker who was managed at a public hospital in Lesotho. Informed consent and ethics approval was obtained from the University of Cape Town’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC 593/2024).
RESULTS:
A mumps outbreak was reported in the Leribe district of Lesotho on the 1st February 2023. The index case was a 3-year-old girl who presented at a public hospital with mumps infection. Following identification of the index case, a rapid increase in the number of paediatric cases with mumps was observed. The first peak consisted of 88 cases in Epi-week 5 followed by another peak involving 122 cases in epi-week 15. A young female medical intern doctor in the paediatric ward at a hospital in Leribe district presented with symptoms of mumps on the 11th May 2023 (about 20 days after index patient became ill). She developed sudden onset of bilateral parotid swelling, mandibular and submental swelling, followed by loss of hearing. Mumps ELISA IgG (18th July 2023) which was positive (value 291 AU/mL, greater than cut off 11 AU/mL) & Mumps ELISA IgM was also Positive which was confirmatory for recent mumps infection. Audiometric testing performed on the 24th May 2023 revealed Profound Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss requiring cochlear implant surgery. She experienced considerable impairment and reduced quality of life following the diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
The case highlights the importance of workplace health risk assessments focused on biological hazards in healthcare settings. The timely identification and contact tracing of mumps cases is essential in building sustainable health systems that also protect health workers.
Health workers are exposed to mumps infection during high-risk work and are particularly vulnerable if unvaccinated. Recent mumps outbreaks in Southern Africa have raised alarm about the effectiveness of public health measures to protect health workers.
METHODS:
A case report is presented of a healthcare worker who was managed at a public hospital in Lesotho. Informed consent and ethics approval was obtained from the University of Cape Town’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC 593/2024).
RESULTS:
A mumps outbreak was reported in the Leribe district of Lesotho on the 1st February 2023. The index case was a 3-year-old girl who presented at a public hospital with mumps infection. Following identification of the index case, a rapid increase in the number of paediatric cases with mumps was observed. The first peak consisted of 88 cases in Epi-week 5 followed by another peak involving 122 cases in epi-week 15. A young female medical intern doctor in the paediatric ward at a hospital in Leribe district presented with symptoms of mumps on the 11th May 2023 (about 20 days after index patient became ill). She developed sudden onset of bilateral parotid swelling, mandibular and submental swelling, followed by loss of hearing. Mumps ELISA IgG (18th July 2023) which was positive (value 291 AU/mL, greater than cut off 11 AU/mL) & Mumps ELISA IgM was also Positive which was confirmatory for recent mumps infection. Audiometric testing performed on the 24th May 2023 revealed Profound Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss requiring cochlear implant surgery. She experienced considerable impairment and reduced quality of life following the diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
The case highlights the importance of workplace health risk assessments focused on biological hazards in healthcare settings. The timely identification and contact tracing of mumps cases is essential in building sustainable health systems that also protect health workers.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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