Brazil’s ‘rapid and violent’ Covid variant devastates Latin America

Expert says global leaders must not ignore Brazil, which is brewing variants left, right and centre'

As a coronavirus variant traced to the Brazilian Amazon marauded through Peru's coastal capital last month, Rommel Heredia raced to his local hospital to seek help for his brother, mother and father.

I said goodbye and promised I'd come back to take them home," said the 47-year-old PE teacher, his voice muffled by two black masks pulled tightly over his face.