Cecil,
Each antivirus program is different, but most have
an email checking option, both incoming and outgoing
email. That option should be activated. The options
for email checking vary, some require that you decide
what to do about an infected email, some will 'clean'
it automatically or get rid of it in some way. Which
method you choose is up to you.
Firewalls are even more varied than antivirus
programs and are a real P.I.T.A. to set up correctly.
so R.T.F.M. is the key with them. It also depends on
the programs/TSR's you use. Some are not safe at all.
Richard listed a site in his post that is very very good
about telling you the how/what/where about spamming and
virus/worm/?? activities. The utilities on that site
work, are a good idea, and I recommend them.
'Doc

PS - These virus 'floods' are still a P.I.T.A. and I
have to delete them, but they stand NO chance of
infecting my machine.