Essien launches campaign to fight Ebola in Africa

An internet joke about Michael Essien contracting the deadly Ebola virus has sparked the Ghana midfielder to launch a campaign to fight the disease in Africa.

The AC Milan powerhouse was so scared of the internet rumour that he has joined a campaign for Health Africa International to educate the public in Africa about the disease.

The #UnitedAgainstEbola project will try and combat the threat of Ebola and the potential impact of the disease on the up-coming Africa Cup of Nations.

“There was a joke about me on the internet that I have got ebola. I said this in not a joke and I came up with this campaign to try and educate people in Africa about the disease,” Essien told the BBC.

“I was not worried. I had not travelled to Africa. I was fine. I was in good health. People around the world were more worried about me so I tried to calm everybody down.

“I’m still working on it to try and get some of my team-mates and people I know to get involved and to promote this campaign and try to raise awareness and to raise money for those who need it.

“The most important thing is when someone has the virus how to deal with the person and how to go close to the person.”