Nancy Gibson, co-chair of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, called the virus a "time bomb," and said no one knows the true extent of the disease which poses a threat to wildlife and humans.

Health officials in Louisiana are reporting the first human death linked to bird flu in the U.S. Here in Minnesota, state lottery ticket purchases could help combat the spread of the virus. Gov. Tim Walz recently approved more than $1.

Lawmakers and wildlife experts have set aside $1.27 million in state funds to help monitor the highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as “bird flu,” in Minnesota wildlife. Gov. Tim Walz approved funds Friday from the state lottery-generated Environment and Natural Resources Fund for researchers at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine to study the flu.

Amid a two-year bird flu outbreak, University of Minnesota researchers will study the impact on Minnesota’s wildlife.