Don't know if this is just a sick coincidence but...
2007 - Chinese Year of the Chicken - Bird flu pandemic devastates part of Asia
2008 - Chinese Year of the Horse - Equine influenza decimates Aussie racing
2009 - Chinese Year of the Pig - Swine flu pandemic kills 100's of people around the globe
It gets worse next year...
2010 - Chinese Year of the Cock - WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!?!?!?!
Hoeloe
...Except that swine flu has only killed (note, KILLED, not infected) about 8 people.
Most have died from other diseases brought on by a weakened immune system.