Several BRICS leaders fell ill after India Summit? New Delhi responds to viral Claims
India's Ministry of External Affairs described the reports as fake
Published September 18, 2026
India has pushed back against reports circulating around the internet about how several international leaders became unwell after participating in the BRICS summit in New Delhi, labeling those claims "false" and "harmful."
These rumours started circulating after the two-day 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi where the world’s top leaders came to India on September 12 and 13.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were all present.
Cyril Ramaphosa caused a stir when he left India. Although his office stated that the 73 year old leader was unwell and would be withdrawing from all public appearances; they refused to state what sickness he was experiencing.
Soon, various social media posts made claims that many of these world leaders fell ill after the meeting, and some went so far as to suggest food poisoning. Posts were also making claims that Xi Jinping experienced a medical problem either before leaving India or shortly thereafter.
India's Ministry of External Affairs described the reports as fake. Fact checkers within this Ministry said social media postings linking an illness affecting several international leaders to their attendance at meetings held in India were misleading and malicious; and asked people not to believe such false information.
To date there is no known reputable evidence to support the claim that multiple international leaders contracted the same illness while attending the BRICS summit; nor did multiple international leaders experience food poisoning.
