Meghan Markle Is Pregnant, Will Not Adjust Tour Due To Zika Risks

The royal family will soon get bigger. As it was formally announced earlier today, Meghan Markle, the newly appointed Duchess of Sussex, and her husband Prince Harry seem very excited to share the news they are going to have their first child together as a royal couple. The little bundle of British baby joy is estimated to arrive in the spring of 2019. The news came from the official Kensington Palace social media account. Here's what Kensington Palace wrote:

As it was announced on the Kensington Palace Twitter account, the expecting child is the first to be shared between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and it represents the next step in their marriage after the Royal wedding in May. This baby news is the next step in the lives shared by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they were appointed earlier this year. And while it is a big step for them, we've heard they are not planning on changing their upcoming world tour plans.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to continue on their tour schedule, which includes a visit to Fiji and Tonga. The Zika virus has been detected in this location. However, despite the recent baby news, Harry and Markle are not planning to change their future travel plans in the least. The famous married couple is being considerate and mindful of the virus, though. They have sought medical advice about the Zika virus, which can cause concerning birth deficiencies, including microcephaly, ahead of their future traveling plans, as People is reporting.

Similar to the West Nile disease, the Zika virus can be contracted by mosquitos, notably the Aedes aegypti mosquito. When one is bitten by an infected mosquito, they become carriers, and if they are pregnant with a growing child inside, they might be carrying the virus into the fermenting baby in them. If the virus is transmitted through the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman, the child might contract microcephaly, which causes the newborn child's head to be smaller than normal children's heads. It can result in developmental challenges and potentially even death, depending on the severity of it.

At this time, there are no vaccines or cures for the disease, which makes the prospect of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's travels seem rather. Regardless, medical experts believe that Markle can be kept out of harm's way if she takes the proper precautions and plans during this forthcoming traveling.

Furthermore, the official Kensington Palace account also claimed the newly married couple have "appreciated" the enthusiasm and gratification they have received since their marriage in May, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry want people to know they're "delighted" to share the baby news.

Congratulations to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for baby news! It's sure to be an exciting time for the Royal family, and we'll continue to keep you posted on all the latest developments within the Kenginston Palace right here at CinemaBlend.

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Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.