During the first 22 weeks of this year there were 175 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the country. Of these, 27 are women who contracted the virus during pregnancy.
Health Minister Fernando Llorca Castro will replace Sáenz starting Thursday and Vice Minister MarÃa Esther AnchÃa will temporarily work as Health Minister.
Health officials reported that 93 percent of the people who died from influenza last year were not vaccinated, despite the fact that because all were members of high-risk groups, they were eligible to receive the vaccination for free.
Union leaders demanded that President Luis Guillermo SolÃs ensure the immediate dismissal of Caja Executive President MarÃa del RocÃo Sáenz Madrigal.
Caja Pension Manager Jaime Barrantes said they will evaluate the unions' petition along with others that they have received from other groups in recent days.
