BBC Strictly Come Dancing star 'feeling grateful' after rash sparks ‘tropical disease’ fears

Saffron Barker told fans she was now on the mend following the recent health scare

Doctors thought a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant had contacted a 'tropical disease' after she began showing 'all the symptoms'. Saffron Barker said she came out in rashes 'all over' her body as she told fans about the recent health scare.

The 24-year-old, who was the first female social media star to appear on the BBC dance show, told fans the illness had wiped her out, admitting she was "finally" feeling "somewhat normal" again. She took to Instagram to post a snap of her laid up in bed as she thanked fans for their well wishes.

Saffron, who was partnered with AJ Pritchard during her 2019 stint on Strictly, wrote: "After a week, I finally feel somewhat normal again. The doctor thought I had caught a tropical disease from a mosquito when I was away as I had all the symptoms."

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She continued: "Symptoms being, rashes all over my body, headache, body aches, shooting pains in my body, temperature, sore throat and ears etc. After getting my bloods taken, turns out I didn’t have that but my white blood cells were half the number they should be so very low and therefore my whole body was trying to fight the infection.

Sharing another snap taken in the bath, Saffron revealed she was now on the mend, the Mirror reports. "Today is the first day I have woken up and they are settling so feeling grateful,” she said.