The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rejected social media reports that several world leaders fell ill after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, saying that there was no such thing as a “malicious” media report that some world leaders fell ill after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi in the first place and warning people not to share unverified information.
The clarification came on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after reports about the health of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa triggered speculation online about other leaders who attended the summit.
MEA Issues ‘Fake Alert’
The MEA's fact-checking unit issued a post on X warning against what it described as misleading social-media content.
The ministry wrote: “Fake Alert!!! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!”
The message came as speculation spread online that Ramaphosa had temporarily stepped back from public engagements after returning from India.
The MEA’s clarification is important because the reports circulating online went beyond Ramaphosa’s confirmed health update and made broader claims involving other BRICS leaders.
What happened to Cyril Ramaphosa?
South Africa’s Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa returned from India on Monday after the BRICS Summit and was advised by his medical team to rest and recover due to ill health.
The Presidency did not disclose the full nature of his illness. Ramaphosa will now be temporarily absent from public engagements and would ask ministers to support him at any such time he needs to be, his office said.
Therefore, the South African government's statement confirms that Ramaphosa was unwell. But it does not establish that his illness was caused by his participation in the BRICS Summit.
How the Rumours Spread
The health rumours gained momentum after Ramaphosa’s announcement when he returned from New Delhi.
Social media users and some posts subsequently began linking his illness to other developments in BRICS leaders.
One example was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who did not attend the BRICS leaders dinner at Bharat Mandapam on September 12.
There were also reports of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi during the summit that also made waves in the media about the interaction that happened between Modi and Xi. However, people involved with the incident told Hindustan Times that Modi's apparent question to Xi during his speech was only related to a translation device on the Chinese leader, rather than a medical problem.
Xi Jinping health claims remain unverified.
There is speculation on Xi's health also circulated online but there has been no official evidence that he fell ill after the BRICS Summit.
The MEA’s warning therefore covers the wider claims being circulated about multiple leaders rather than confirming any connection between their health and the summit.
This distinction is important when assessing viral posts, particularly when they combine a confirmed event—Ramaphosa's temporary withdrawal from public engagements—with unverified claims about other leaders.
Fake Alert!!! 🚨🚨🚨
— MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) September 17, 2026
We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms! pic.twitter.com/NRu6Dfk7Yj
The BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi
The 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit was held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026.
Leaders and representatives from the expanded BRICS grouping participated in discussions on global governance, economic cooperation, development and international affairs.
Following the summit several leaders returned to their respective countries and social media speculation about their health began to spread.
What Is Confirmed So Far?
The confirmed information is that Cyril Ramaphosa was advised by doctors to rest because of ill health, according to South Africa's Presidency.
What is not confirmed is the claim that several BRICS leaders became sick because they attended the summit. The MEA has warned against those social-media claims, too.
