In its continuing efforts to stave off a mass emigration of infected 'Boat people' from Africa, A Spanish frigate sank a small sailing vessel off the coast of Gambia today.

"We tried to hail the vessel. Then warning shots were fired. The people did not respond." said a Navel Spokesperson. "We then continued to track the vessel for a further hour. It was maneuvering in an erratic fashion. An attempt was made to draw near to it. Once it was clear that all aboard were re animated, the decision was made to sink the vessel with all souls aboard lost."

The Spokesperson continued "This is the problem we face on a daily basis. This is why we cannot simply rescue every vessel we see. It only takes one infected to be on a boat filled with people in these cramped conditions, and the virus can spread in minutes."

That's why we escort every vessel back to Port to have the people quarantined and checked out. It's a rare occasion when the whole boat has to be destroyed.

Please try to understand how traumatic this is for our sailors. The first rule of the sea is to rescue fellow souls. To have to do this is a terrible thing."