ST. PAUL — State officials said the cost for responding to a deadly bird flu outbreak has risen to roughly $6 million.

The scope of the outbreak has nearly doubled in the last week alone. Nearly 50 Minnesota turkey farms had been hit as of Friday, costing farmers almost 3 million birds.

House and Senate lawmakers are trying to reach a deal to provide an initial $900,000 for response efforts. But Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said Monday the cost had ballooned to $6 million as of Friday.

Gov. Mark Dayton was set to meet with state officials later Monday to extend an emergency order.

Bakk said the Legislature is still trying to work out a contingency plan for state agencies to access emergency funds if the outbreak worsens over the spring.