India Debunks Rumors of World Leader Illnesses at BRICS Summit

The Ministry of External Affairs of India debunked viral social media claims alleging that multiple world leaders fell ill after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026. The ministry's fact-checking unit issued a fake alert on X, warning against malicious posts that suggested leaders suffered food poisoning or other medical emergencies, specifically citing a post from the prediction market platform Polymarket.

These rumors gained traction after the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the president withdrew from public engagements upon returning home to rest on medical advice. Unverified reports also circulated claiming Chinese President Xi Jinping suffered a stroke or fainted during the summit and departed early for treatment at Beijing’s 301 Hospital.

Indian and Chinese officials did not confirm the reports regarding Xi Jinping. Official records indicate that Xi attended the summit and held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BRICS Summit concluded with a joint declaration focused on resilience, innovation, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.