A Historical Study on the Scientific Attribution of Biosafety Risk Assessment in Real Cases of Laboratory-Acquired Infections

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the history of laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) from a scientific perspective on biosafety risks. It analyzes cases from the late 19th century to the 2020s, whereas the previous research on this topic has primarily focused on social factors. By combining real case studies, this study elucidates the mechanisms of LAI occurrence and development, compares the attribution of risks and mitigation measures, and establishes the scientific patterns of LAIs’ historical evolution. The details of LAI cases are compared to the biosafety risk assessment indices of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States, and China. These real cases of LAI occurrence risks are now incorporated into biosafety standards and assessments in the modern era. Additionally, factors that pose potential risks of LAIs, even if they have not yet manifested, are also highlighted.