State Animal Husbandry Minister Anees Ahmed Wednesday said the bird flu virus in Jalgaon district had been contained and the people of the district could start eating poultry products.

"The disease is under complete control. There is no need to panic. I am repeating my earlier appeal that people can start consuming poultry products if it is cooked at 70 degree C," Ahmed told reporters in Jalgaon.

• Bird Flu Hits India

He said, "It (eating poultry products) was a must to do so as to support the state's poultry industry," which has taken a huge beating after the bird flu outbreak in Nandurbar district.

According to him, the samples found with bird flu positive was not a new case.

"This is a previous month case when samples were sent to the Bhopal laboratory soon after bird flu was declared in Navapur taluka," the minister said.

He also scotched rumours of any positive bird flu case in Shirpur taluka of adjacent Dhule district.