Cheryl Cole Has Malaria

Singer and British television personality Cheryl Cole is being treated in an English hospital after contracting malaria, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old bombshell, best known as a member of the all-girl group Girls Aloud and a judge on the ITV talent show The X Factor, has cancelled her work commitments for a week on the advice of doctors.

“Cheryl Cole is currently in hospital, being treated for malaria. Following doctors’ advice she will be cancelling all work commitments for the next week,” her rep said in a statement issued this morning.

If not treated promptly, malaria can become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. It is caused by the parasite plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitos. Symptoms include headaches, fever, and vomiting.

It’s believed that the “Can’t Speak French” singer picked-up the potentially lethal mosquito-borne illness while holidaying in Tanzania with her friend and dance partner Derek Hough three weeks ago. She and Derek spent six days together on Africa’s east coast last month following her split from soccer star husband Ashley Cole. Cheryl had been taking anti-viral malaria tablets religiously, but somehow managed to become ill anyway.

The diagnosis follows Cheryl’s shocking collapse during a photoshoot in London on Saturday. Cheryl had been suspected to be suffering with gastroenteritis and severe exhaustion, but she was rushed to hospital the next day after her symptoms, including a high fever, dramatically worsened.

A source close to Cole told The Sun that by Sunday she was slipping in and out of consciousness and was rushed to the emergency room.

“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,” the source said. “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.”

Cheryl is expected to stay in hospital for another night and will be under close observation for the next two weeks.

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