Following on from reports about Cheryl Cole collapsing while at an X Factor photoshoot recently, the Daily Mirror claims that she’s been diagnosed as suffering from malaria.

The paper goes on to state that she’s being treated in a private London clinic, and the paper’s photographers snapped Cheryl’s friend Derek Hough as he visited her yesterday.

And though Cheryl’s PR rep has confirmed that she will be off work for at least a week, he wouldn’t be drawn on a reason for her illness.

He said, “Following doctors’ advice Cheryl Cole will be cancelling all work commitments for the next week.”

The paper adds that Cheryl is thought to have contracted the disease – which is caused by mosquito bites – in Tanzania where she went on holiday recently with Derek.

The Daily Mail today quotes a close friend of Cheryl’s as saying, “Cheryl hadn’t been feeling herself for about a week [after returning on 22 June].

“She was feeling tired and listless. In the end, this must have been the beginnings of the virus.

“During Sunday afternoon, Cheryl went downhill quickly. She was sweating and shaking and in a bad way.”