Seniors in Oxford County will benefit from latest announcement
Ontario has launched a new screening program aimed at protecting more people from life-threatening abdominal aortic aneurysms, a condition that often develops without symptoms and may go undetected until rupture.
The Ontario Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program is the first of its kind in Canada and will promote early detection through abdominal ultrasounds, which are safe, free, and take only a few minutes to complete.
Starting this week, Ontarians turning 65 will receive a letter from Ontario Health encouraging them to speak with their primary care provider about obtaining a requisition for an ultrasound.
The province says the program will expand by spring 2026 to include all residents aged 65 to 80, with plans underway to allow eligible patients to self-refer directly to ultrasound labs.
Officials say the initiative will improve early diagnosis and treatment, reducing the risk of sudden death and emergency surgeries. An estimated 20,000 Canadians are affected by abdominal aortic aneurysms each year.
