The forested city of Manaus in northwestern Brazil was the first in the country to strike the pandemic. The virus spread rapidly, and by October last year it was estimated that 76% of the population had been infected – a higher than the theoretical level for herd immunity. However, in January 2021, things escalated and the health system was restored, with hospitals running out of oxygen and doctors and nurses having to do manual ventilation. To find out what may be behind this second wave, Sarah Boseley talks to Guardian Latin American editor Tom Phillips and Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, asking why Manaus went hit twice and what it might mean for our understanding of immunity, new viral changes, and the pathway through pandemic
How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know