What risk does the virus varicella-zoster virus(vzv) cause to fetuses?

Serious effects: Varicella-zoster virus can cause prematurity, encephalitis, pneumonia, intrauterine growth restriction, central nervous system abnormalities, limb abnormalities, blindness, and possibly death if birth occurs during active infection. This is one reason why the VZV vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy since it is a live vaccine.

Remote.: Rarely (<2%) maternal VZV infection during pregnancy (chickenpox or herpes zoster) can cause the following severe fetal syndrome: microcephaly, neurodevelopmental delay, microphthalmia, cataracts, nystagmus, optic nerve atrophy, chorioretinitis, atrophic limbs, limd reduction defects, poor fetal growth, skin lesions, gastrointestinal stenosis/atresia.