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Across Australia, pediatric centres have just come through a challenging respiratory virus season - driven by influenza, RSV, and COVID - with unusually high volumes among infants and young children, shifting viral patterns, and sustained pressure on emergency departments and inpatient units. As Canadian hospitals begin to experience early increases in respiratory illness, pediatric leaders are watching closely for signals of what may lie ahead.

In this “just-in-time” episode, Dr. Lindy Samson, Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Staff at CHEO, speaks with Dr. Sarah McNab, Director of General Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, to unpack what truly defined Australia’s season. Their conversation explores why influenza surged earlier and harder than expected, how testing strategies and triage pathways evolved, where hospitals struggled to keep pace with demand, and what helped support clinical teams during periods of extreme pressure. Dr. McNab offers practical insights on vaccine uptake, ED flow, inpatient capacity, and communication with families - highlighting which approaches proved valuable and which fell short.

Drawing connections to the early trends Dr. Samson is already seeing in Canada, this episode provides a cross-continental perspective for pediatric leaders preparing for a potentially difficult winter. Whether you are supporting emergency operations, managing inpatient pressures, or monitoring viral activity in your region, this discussion offers actionable, firsthand guidance to help anticipate and respond to the respiratory virus season ahead.

(Recorded December 10, 2025, this conversation reflects the best available insights at a rapidly evolving moment in Canada’s viral season.)