New Delhi: The Centre today hinted at a delay on the part of the West Bengal Government in informing about large scale poultry deaths in its two districts where an outbreak of avian influenza has been declared.

"We received the first communication of poultry deaths from the state government on January 11. They had written that mortality has been reported from January four," Union Animal Husbandry Secretary Pradeep Kumar told reporters here. Asked if this indicated a delay on the part of the state government, he said, "you can draw your own inference".

According to the action plan sent to all the state governments long ago, any abnormal deaths in poultry were to be reported and samples sent within 24 hours, he said. Questioned whether early detection would have helped in containing the outbreak faster, he said, "timing is of essence".

Kumar pointed out that surveillance had not been to the "desired extent" as India had declared itself free from bird flu in November 2007. Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal also agreed that there could have been a delay in reporting the deaths by the state government.

Source : PTI