Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that certain P-L-dioxolane nucleoside analogs which contain a uracil base, and preferably, a 5-halosubstituted uracil base, exhibit unexpectedly high activity against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Varciella-Zoster virus (VZV) and Herpes Virus 8 (HV-8). In particular, the compounds according to the present invention show potent inhibition of the replication of the virus (viral growth) in combination with very low toxicity to the host cells (i.e., animal or human tissue). Compounds are useful for treating EBV, VZV and HV-8 infections in humans.