MYSTERY surrounds the cause of an infection which killed an abattoir worker from Yate.

Stephen Reed died of a bacterial infection known as pasteurellosis which can be passed to people through contact with pig blood or a scratch or bite from a dog or cat.

However, an inquest last Thursday heard that there was no reason to believe that the 57-year-old from Abbotswood had come into contact with pig blood at Tulip Ltd’s abattoir in Westerleigh, where he was a cleaner.

Mr Reed died at Southmead Hospital on September 19 last year after falling ill on September 11 – three weeks after his previous shift at the abattoir.

When he was admitted on September 11, he was having trouble breathing, suffering from abdominal pain and had developed a rash on his torso.

At the inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court, assistant coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said: “Mr Reed’s death was initially suspected as in connection with his employment at the abattoir in Bristol.

“Due to his diagnosis of pasteurellosis, pasteurella multocida, it was suggested that a pipe could have burst at the abattoir, resulting in Mr Reed getting direct contact with pig blood, but after the abattoir was inspected by a health and safety executive there was no evidence this had happened.

“The pig’s blood is collected as soon as the pigs are killed through a collection system of pipes which evidence has shown were recently installed at the site and were in very good condition.”

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Ann Linden, told the inquest that Mr Reed had worked at the abattoir for many years without incident.

She added that the abattoir had not breached any rules and was a safe place to work.

Recording a conclusion of death by natural causes, Dr Harrowing said: “The health and safety investigation has shown no evidence of any pipe burst, or way that Mr Reed would have obtained direct contact with blood, and I can see all procedures were conducted and equipment put in place to a high standard to prevent the spread of any disease."

He added that the infection "may have been caught outside of work and there is no evidence to show it was the result of working at the abattoir."