Millions of African football followers were thrown into a state of confusion yesterday when an internet hoax, started by a journalist suggested that the Ghanaian-born AC Milan midfielder Michael Essien had contracted the deadly Ebola virus.

And it was not long before it became clear that it was nothing more than rumours which allegedly must have been ignited by someone out to cause mischief, as Michael Essien, who will return to training tomorrow in Italy, wrote in an Instagram photo that the rumors are completely false.

“I'm very fit and very healthy, No truth in the internet rumors that I have contracted Ebola. I'm well & will be training as usual tomorrow.
The Ebola virus is a very serious issue and people shouldn't joke about it.Whoever wrote this article is very unprofessional and insensitive…!!!” The former Chelsea star stated

The reports were first tweeted by Yury Alkaev, a “sports journalist” who previously had not tweeted for more than a month. Despite the dubious nature of his tweets, Alkaev was retweeted hundreds of times and a number of media outlets worldwide picked up on the story, and it got viral