Update: To best keep our staff and clients healthy, CARES is not scheduling onsite appointments or accepting walk-in visitors without an appointment. Client services are conducted remotely. Please contact your case manager or a staff person for any needs you may have. For a staff directory click the Columbia CARES logo to be directed to our website.However it may look in your home, school is back in session! The August edition of the CARELetter is learning more about HIV and resources to get additional information. HIV Life CycleIf 2020 has done nothing, it has taught us the lessons of virtual learning and communicating. So, let's learn a little more about HIV. In order for viruses to reproduce, they must infect cells in the body. Viruses are not technically alive: They are like a brain without a body. So in order to make more copies of itself, a virus must hijack our cells and use them to make new viruses. When a "hijacked" cell tries to make its own proteins, it accidentally makes new viruses as well. HIV can infect many types of cells in the body, but it mostly infects cells in the immune system. Once infected, a cell can produce hundreds of new copies of HIV. There are medications to slow and prevent steps of HIV replication. (The HIV Life Cycle-Poz) To learn more about the global impact HIV has had, visit the 23rd International AIDS Conference website to view sessions, e-posters, and access the latest information provided at the first virtual conference held in July. Click the logo to visit the website. You can also search AIDS 2020 on YouTube.Visit these resources to learn more about HIV www.columbiacares.org www.ccprepnow.org www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-and-aids/hiv-and-aids-resources www.amfar.org www.cdc.gov |