BRASILIA, June 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's Agriculture

Minister Carlos Favaro said on Wednesday there were strong

indications that the world's biggest chicken exporter had

efficiently contained a bird flu outbreak which was reported on

a commercial farm in mid-May.

Brazil's first-ever case of the highly pathogenic avian

influenza was reported on a commercial farm in Rio Grande do Sul

state last month, prompting dozens of trade partners to ban

Brazilian chicken at countrywide and regional levels.

Countries including China, South Korea and the European

Union, were in talks with Brazil to ease their bans, Favaro said

in Brasilia, adding that many partners were expected to relax

restrictions before the 28-day observation period is up later

this month.

Since the outbreak, chicken prices in Brazil have fallen

around 7%, Favaro said, adding the decline was normal and not

alarming and that almost three quarters of Brazil's chicken

production was now being consumed domestically.

Brazil has seen more than 170 confirmed cases of bird flu

since 2023 - including an outbreak at the zoo in capital

Brasilia - but just one case at a commercial farm.