WASHINGTON—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled its Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network, a streamlined and integrated approach to effectively and rapidly respond to human and animal foodborne illness outbreaks.
The CORE Network consists of epidemiologists, veterinarians, microbiologists, environmental health specialists, emergency coordinators, FDA investigators and risk communications specialists who will work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and state public health and agriculture agencies in human and animal foodborne illness outbreaks.
“The CORE Network builds on the best practices FDA has already implemented in its outbreak response efforts," said Mike Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner of foods. “And, in keeping with the reforms of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, CORE activities will learn from outbreaks to develop preventive systems, in an effort to reduce them from happening in the future. CORE will also allow for more consistency in monitoring and investigating outbreaks, as well as streamline decision making and improve food safety practices."
Dr. Kathleen F. Gensheimer, M.D., M.P.H., a nationally recognized public health leader who most recently was the state epidemiologist for Maine, will lead the CORE Network as the chief medical officer/outbreak director. She has responsibility for all FDA preparedness, outbreak response and post-response activities.
“A real benefit of the network approach is enhancing communication and coordination with federal, state and local food safety agencies, as well as industry and consumers," she said. “Given my background at the state public health level, this is a major priority for me."
