Four Australians are stranded on a luxury cruise ship amid a suspected outbreak of the deadly rat-borne hantavirus after three people died on board.

The Australians are among 149 people on board the MV Hondius, which remains moored off the coast of Cape Verde, West Africa, as local health authorities work to assess the situation.

The ship, which was on a week-long cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, requested help from authorities on Sunday after a third person – a German national – died.

A Dutch couple in their late 60s died last month. 

Hantavirus is transmitted to humans through infected wild rodents, such as mice or rats, which shed the virus in their saliva, urine and droppings. 

Infection can occur through a rodent bite, direct contact with rodents or their droppings, or by inhaling contaminated dust. There is no cure.

More to come. 

Four Australians are stranded on a luxury cruise ship being held off West Africa (pictured) amid a suspected outbreak of the deadly hantavirus