Mary Berry's body was forever damaged after she contracted polio as a child.
The UK Health Security Agency declared a "national incident" earlier this week after the virus was found in sewage samples in London. Although it is normal for the virus to be picked up as isolated cases and not detected again, experts have raised the alarm after several genetically-linked viruses were found in samples between February and May.
However, a "national incident" has been established to check for cases elsewhere as a precaution as officials investigate the extent of community transmission. The consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA described the risk as low, but urged people to check they are vaccinated against polio.
READ MORE: 'National incident' declared after polio outbreak found in UK
Polio was eradicated from the UK in 2003 - and the last case of natural polio infection acquired in the country was in 1984. The disease can potentially be deadly and was one of the world's most feared conditions before a vaccine was developed in the 1950s.
There would be thousands of cases each year in the UK - and TV chef Mary Berry has been open about how the traumatic experience of contracting the virus still impacts her to this day.
The national treasure was 13 when she was diagnosed with polio. She was forced to spend three months in hospital and it forever damaged parts of her body.
The now 87-year-old was left with a twisted spine and weaker left arm, but considers herself lucky she survived the condition. She told Radio Times: "I was immensely fortunate. I only had it on my left side and I’ve got a funny left hand. Everybody thinks I’ve got arthritis.
"I look a bit funny when I’m rolling pastry but I have no other difficulties whatsoever. I mean, I’m not as good at sport as I was, but I was let off very lightly. I’m grateful."
Dr Hilary Jones spoke on Good Morning Britain this week about how prevalent the virus was before the vaccine was developed. He said: "Before we had effective vaccines in the 50s, one in 200 people would develop paralysis of the lower legs and limbs. One in 15 of those would go and develop paralysis of the respiratory muscles and be dependent on an iron lung in those days."
Dr Hilary assured people Public Health have the situation under control and described the risk as "low" amongst those who are vaccinated. However, he explained it was more of a worry for parents of children who are under five and haven't been fully vaccinated against polio.
Most children have the polio vaccine as part of their vaccination programme, but the medical expert urged parents to check with their GP whether their child had been vaccinated. He added: "Most parents will have a red book that has a record of their vaccinations. We use an injectable form of the polio vaccine now and children have it at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks.
"They also have it at three years and four months before school and teenagers at 14. So you have five five injections of the polio vaccine and if you're fully protected then you have nothing to worry about."
He added: " NHS will be contacting parents with children under the age of five, who haven't been fully vaccinated. But parents look in your red book. If they haven't been vaccinated, contact your GP and get it done."
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