MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Authorities are investigating the death of a baby found floating in the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota, the Winona County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The baby's body was found in the river on Monday afternoon and taken to the Dakota County Medical Examiner's office, the department said in a statement. The medical examiner referred calls back to the Winona sheriff.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Winona County Attorney's office also are part of the joint investigation.

(Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Greg McCune)