The Korean Medical Association (KMA) says claims that Koreans are especially vulnerable to the human form of mad cow disease requires further study.

The KMA said confirming such claims would require a collective genetic study on Koreans' susceptibility to the disease.

It also said the virus is basically a cattle disease and transferral to humans is not an easy process. The association added that not everyone who eats infected beef will develop the disease.

At the same time, the KMA said it's difficult to assess that risk, citing a latent period that can last for decades.