Cheryl Cole hospitalised

The X Factor judge contracted the deadly disease during her...

15:21 06 July 2010

Singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole collapsed over the weekend after contracting malaria.

It has been reported that the Girls Aloud singer became exposed to the deadly disease during a trip to Tanzania last month.

Cole fainted during a photoshoot in London over the weekend, prompting concerns for her health in the wake of her estrangement from her husband, footballer Ashley Cole.

Initial reports suggested the singer was suffering from exhaustion and a severe stomach bug, with her heavy workload and jetsetting lifestyle deemed as the reasons.

However, The Sun newspaper reported that the star's illness stems from catching mosquito-borne illness malaria while visiting Africa, and that she is currently under observation in hospital.

A source said: "She told doctors she'd had stomach pains since her return from Tanzania. On Sunday evening her condition deteriorated so rapidly she knew it was something serious.

She'd spent 48 hours in bed trying to sleep off what she thought was a stomach bug. She was extremely weak, sweating and drifting in and out of consciousness. She was driven to hospital where tests showed malaria. Everyone is really concerned. She is very ill."

The star's representative confirmed on Monday that Cole was ordered to take time off by doctors. She will not get back to work for at least a week.