Minor structural protein that acts as an endoribonuclease during lytic infection. Degrades host mRNAs in the cytoplasm by cutting them at preferred sites, including some in regions of translation initiation. Together with inhibition of host splicing by ICP27, contributes to an overall decrease in host protein synthesis. Also, after the onset of viral transcription, accelerates the turnover of viral mRNA, thereby facilitating the sequential expression of different classes of viral genes. Binds translation initiation factors eIF4H, eIF4AI, and eIF4AII, thereby may interact directly with the translation initiation complex and thus digest specifically mRNAs. Also impedes antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules, inhibits secretion of cytokines that would otherwise recruit lymphocytes and neutrophils cells to the site of infection and blocks the activation of dendritic cells. Impedes the alpha/beta interferon-mediated response to infection by evading the cGAS/ STING-mediated DNA-sensing pathway and degrading CGAS via its RNase activity. Interacts with human EIF4H, EIF4A1 and EIF4A2; interaction with eIF4AI and EIF4A2 presumably allows Vhs protein to associate with the eIF4F cap-binding complex. Belongs to the herpesviridae VHS protein family.