Meghan Markle Needs To Wear Long-Sleeves In Tonga For This Reason

Meghan Markle is required to wear long sleeves in Tonga for a very important reason.

Isabella Sullivan, a journalist for Express, Markle is wearing long sleeves to lower her risks of having mosquito bites. She has also been photographed wearing lighter shades of clothing that are known for attracting mosquitoes less. When she and Prince Harry were in Australia, the Duchess of Sussex wore darker, but she lightened up her clothes the minute she arrived in Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga.

Prior to Markle and Prince Harry’s trip, the royal couple was warned regarding the risk of Zika virus. Mosquitos can carry the said virus, and it can be passed on to humans through mosquito bites. The Zika virus can also harm unborn babies. Markle is pregnant with her first child and was told that she is at moderate risk of the virus before traveling to Fiji.

James G. Logan, the head of the department of disease control at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine professor, spoke to People regarding the importance of wearing long sleeves during a trip to Fiji and Tonga.

“Wearing long sleeves and baggy clothes will help. Mosquitoes can even bite through jeans so if the clothing is looser it’s much harder for the mosquito to bite. Wearing light-colored clothing can help as these mosquitoes are often attracted to dark clothing. It also helps you spot them if you see a dark mosquito on a light piece of clothing,” he said.

In related news, Prince Harry and Markle have a tight schedule in Tonga. On Friday, the royal couple will visit Princess Angelika at the Faonelua Centre, which will celebrate Tongan handicrafts and products. Prince Harry and Markle will also travel to Tupou College to dedicate two forest reserves.

A day later, Prince Harry and Markle will return to Sydney to attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards and present youth awards to honor the achievements in conservation and adventure. The last day of the Australian program will fall on the final day of the Invictus Games, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will also attend.