DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has resumed inspections of egg-handling facilities more than a year after they were suspended due to the nation’s worst bird flu outbreak. FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher says the agency resumed inspections Wednesday.

Federal on-site egg inspections at processors with 3,000 or more birds were suspended in 21 states in May 2015 after the FDA consulted with state veterinarians concerned about spreading the bird flu virus. States inspect smaller operations.

About 49 million turkeys and chickens were euthanized or died of the bird flu virus in 15 states, including more than 24 million egg layers in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer. The inspections are done primarily to prevent salmonella contamination in eggs.