Dear Tamar,
Thank you for your response and we are happy to support. I hope to meet you soon when this situation resolves/improves. Please stay safe.
Warm regards, FA
Francisco Averhoff MD, MPH
CAPT US Public Health Service
Associate Director for Global Health
Division of Viral Hepatitis
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, MS G-37
Atlanta, GA 30333
phone: 404-718-8501
fax: 404-718-8588
e-mail:
fma0@cdc.gov
From: Tamar Gabunia
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 3:16 PM
To: Averhoff, Francisco (CDC/DDID/NCHHSTP/DVH)
Cc: Irinka Tskhomelidze
Subject: RE: Thought on HCV Treatment and COVID19
Dear Francisco
Many thanks for your e-mail and advice on this. Very important indeed. We will work on revising our treatment scheme accordingly.
პატივისცემით,
თამარ გაბუნია
მინისტრის მოადგილე
Sincerely,
Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH
Deputy Minister
From: Averhoff, Francisco (CDC/DDID/NCHHSTP/DVH) <fma0@cdc.gov>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 6:35 PM
To: Tamar Gabunia <tgabunia@moh.gov.ge>; Gamkrelidze, Amiran (CDC ncdc.ge) <a.gamkrelidze@ncdc.ge>
Cc: Irinka Tskhomelidze <irinkatskhomelidze@gmail.com>; Lia Gvinjilia <lgvinjilia@gmail.com>; Tinatin Kuchuloria <kuchuloria.tatia@gmail.com>;
Nasrullah, Muazzam (CDC/DDID/NCHHSTP/DVH) <hij9@cdc.gov>
Subject: Thought on HCV Treatment and COVID19
Dear Dr. Tamar, and Dr. Amiran,
I have heard about the situation with COVID19 in Georgia, it seems the country is responding exceptionally well, congrats, but I know none of us are out of the woods, and there will be worse days ahead.
I wanted to propose you consider, before tit too overwhelming, going to streamlined/home management/virtual visits of patients undergoing HCV treatment. This is consistent with simplified regimens, and could help to protect HCV patients
and healthcare workers from unnecessary exposures. We are doing this in the USA, and I assume throughout Europe as well, not just for HCV but all primary and specialty care. Our team in Georgia, with our backup/support and working with the HCV clinicians,
is willing to help lead in developing these protocols/SOPs, if that would be useful.
Let us know your thoughts, and stay safe.
Best, FA
Francisco Averhoff MD, MPH
CAPT US Public Health Service
Associate Director for Global Health
Division of Viral Hepatitis
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, MS G-37
Atlanta, GA 30333
phone: 404-718-8501
fax: 404-718-8588
e-mail:
fma0@cdc.gov