Accidentally Spread Virus To Friends Via Email?

Hi everyone. I am new, hate computers, and wish life was not set up in a way that I needed to use one more often than not.
Somehow, my mother and I picked up a virus, or a hacker, or something. I have not finished working through the "Run and Read Me First Malware Removal Guide", but in the meantime, I have a question.

My mom has some friends overseas that have been waiting on an email from her for a long time. I am worried that they are worried about her. She is afraid to email them because we don't know if she could inadvertently spread whatever we have picked up to her friends through an email. She uses web based email, not outlook or something like that.

Is it possible for her to accidentally give her friends the virus we have through an email?

Thanks

Chaos

 

How is the virus unable to be transmitted through the text email when it can be through links and attachments?

 

Thank you.