A 5-month-old girl in Alabama is the state's first confirmed case of the measles. (Photo: WVTM)

The mother of a 5-month-old girl who is now Alabama’s first confirmed case of the measles is being criticized online after making comments about the “carelessness of other mothers” who didn’t get their children vaccinated.

Audrey Peine of Pell City, Ala., confirmed on Thursday that her daughter, Emma, tested positive for the virus after going to the doctor on Monday for a fever, runny nose and rash. According to AL.com, the mother took to Facebook, in a post that is now private, to say that she did “everything” she could to protect her daughter, who is too young to have been vaccinated herself.

“I breastfed her for her entire life. I kept her up to date on her vaccinations. I took her to the doctor when she was sick. And she tested positive for something she was too young to be vaccinated for,” the post read. “She got sick because of the negligence of other parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. She got sick because the measles is on the rise due to carelessness of other mothers.”

Peine went on to say, “I feel like my community failed us,” after encouraging people to “read the statistics” about measles and available vaccinations. AL reports that the post was quickly turned private after the mother received critical comments.

In a press conference, Alabama state health officer Scott Harris said, “The best way to prevent measles transmission is to be vaccinated.” Harris also stated that the department is still conducting an investigation to see how the infant might have exposed to the virus.

A statement from the Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed that Emma is not enrolled in daycare, and was not prior to her diagnosis. She also has not traveled outside of the state.

Peine didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, she told Alabama news station WVTM that she and her husband have just been trying to keep their daughter’s fever down.

“We gave her Tylenol and Motrin to try to keep her fever down. And that was the only thing we could really do,” she told the outlet. “It’s really scary to have a small baby who you know can’t get the vaccination.”

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In the time since Emma’s diagnosis, Harris says that the family’s practitioner has given them advice to “stay home and self-isolate.” As for the possibility of a further outbreak in the state, the Alabama Department of Public Health currently has 32 open investigations, although no additional cases have been confirmed.

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