There is “no sign” of a larger hantavirus outbreak after the evacuation of the last passengers from a disease-stricken cruise ship, the head of the UN health agency has said.

But the World Health Organization’s (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned “the situation could change” and there could be more confirmed virus cases.

The MV Hondius left Tenerife on Monday and is sailing to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Two flights carryingthe final 28 passengers landed in nearby Eindhoven on Tuesday.

Three people have died after travelling on the ship. A French national and a Spaniard who previously returned home have tested positive. The WHO has confirmed nine cases, with two others suspected.

The French woman is in intensive care in hospital in Paris and doctors say she has “the most severe form” of the disease and is being treated with an artificial lung.

The Spanish patient is described as having mild respiratory symptoms.

Twelve employees at a Dutch hospital are now in quarantine over possible exposure to the virus after treating one of the evacuated passengers.