Cheryl Cole battling malaria

Cheryl Cole, the Girls Aloud singer, is in hospital after catching malaria during a holiday in Tanzania three weeks ago, it was reported.

The singer was initially diagnosed with exhaustion after collapsing during a photoshoot for her forthcoming record release on Saturday. She was admitted to a hospital in the UK after her condition worsened.

"Cheryl hadn't been feeling herself for about a week [after returning on June 22]. She was feeling tired and listless. In the end, this must have been the beginnings of the virus," a friend told the Daily Mail. "During Sunday afternoon, Cheryl went downhill quickly. She was sweating and shaking and in a bad way."

Doctors believe she contracted the virus there after being bitten by a mosquito in Tanzania.

Cole is expected to stay in hospital for several days and could take several weeks to recover, raising doubts over her involvement in the rest of the latest series of The X Factor.

"Following doctors' advice, Cheryl Cole will be cancelling all work commitments for the next week," a spokesman for the singer said.

- STAFF REPORTER