Cheryl Cole has been diagnosed with malaria after contracting the disease on her romantic break to Tanzania with rumoured boyfriend Derek Hough.
The Girls Aloud babe was thought to be suffering from exhaustion after fainting at a photo shoot over the weekend but it now appears that Chezza caught the mosiquito-born illness on holiday and in some cases, the condition can be deadly.
Cheryl, who recently filed for divorce from Ashley Cole jetted off to Africa's east coast with Dancing With The Stars performer Derek for a break from her gruelling work schedule and is thought to have taken malaria tablets - but they failed to protect her from the disease.
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Sources close to the Parachute singer claim that Cheryl is to stay in hospital for at least another night and will remain under close observation for two weeks, leaving her involvement in the rest of the new series of the X Factor in serious doubt.
A spokesperson for Chez has confirmed that she is suffering from the illness, with insiders claiming she had battled on through stomach cramps while filming the ITV talent show.
A source told The Sun: "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."
They added: "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."
Her 'new boyfriend' Derek, is said to be by her side at London's Cromwell Hospital where she was admitted on Sunday for urgent tests and is allegedly 'mortified' over Cheryl's illness.
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A source told The Mirror: "He’s mortified by what’s happened and is utterly devastated what she’s going through, not least because it happened on a trip he’d planned,"
"He will always be there for her and his presence has cheered her up no end. It’s the exact tonic she needs to get through this. She really is quite poorly but at least the results came back quickly so the doctors can focus on giving her the right treatment."
They added: "She had been taking malaria tablets while away on holiday and when she came back again but she still tested positive for the disease."
Music mogul Simon Cowell is said to have texted Cheryl, giving her as much time off from the X Factor as she needs saying: "Have some rest. Don't rush back. I don’t want to see you back until you are well enough. Just rest and concentrate on getting better."
Get well soon Cheryl!
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