New Delhi (PTI): The Centre on Monday said the "worst was over" in the Bird flu outbreak in West Bengal even as culling operations began in two districts of Assam in an effort to stop the spread of the virus to neighbouring states.

Culling began in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts of Assam. While 2,200 birds were culled in Dhubri, in Kokrajhar a total of 448 poultry were killed. Five Rapid Reaction Teams (RRTs) are operating in each district.

The decision to begin culling operations in neighbouring states was taken after a high-level meeting between the Union Agriculture and Health Ministries to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Sources in the Animal Husbandry department said while Bihar and Jharkhand were yet to communicate their decision on culling, Orissa was showing some hesitation in beginning the culling operations, considering the financial implications.

Asked why culling operations in West Bengal had not been completed yet, Union Animal Husbandry Secretary Pradeep Kumar told reporters the figures for the number of poultry to be culled had been decided based on the 2003 census, thus there was a slight discrepancy in the culling target.

Kumar said going by the fact that only 14 birds were reported to have died yesterday in the state, "we can safely say that the worst was over for the outbreak".

"There are positive signs that the situation is under control and the worst is over," he said.

"Murshidabad and Cooch Behar are the two districts where culling remains to be done," he said.