Europeans had more (and more exposure to) domesticated animals. Domesticated animals are a… great way to rapidly develop and pass along new and exciting pathogens to humans.
Hunting doesn’t really compare in intensity and longevity of exposure to handling (and not washing one’s hands) animals for grooming and shearing, and breathing in the same stinking air as a dozen livestock through the winter, and intermittently the rest of the year.
Europeans had more (and more exposure to) domesticated animals. Domesticated animals are a… great way to rapidly develop and pass along new and exciting pathogens to humans.
Hunting doesn’t really compare in intensity and longevity of exposure to handling (and not washing one’s hands) animals for grooming and shearing, and breathing in the same stinking air as a dozen livestock through the winter, and intermittently the rest of the year.
Especially if you cram those humans into packed cities as well, with many and varied ways of contacting eachothers bodily fluids