Tuesday, July 6, 2010 5:26am ET by  

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Cheryl Cole ill with malaria

Cheryl Cole has been hospitalised after contracting malaria during a holiday in Tanzania three weeks ago. Doctors believe she caught the disease after being bitten by a mosquito.

It was initially assumed that the 27-year-old star was suffering from gastroenteritis and severe exhaustion when she collapsed during a photoshoot on Saturday (July 3) but on Sunday (July 4) Cole was diagnosed with the disease and admitted into a Surrey hospital where she is expected to stay for several days.

It is not yet known whether the Girls Aloud star will be well enough to partake in the rest of the latest series of 'The X Factor' as it could take her several weeks to recover. However, a spokesperson for the singer has confirmed that Cole has cancelled all work commitments for the next week.