THREE sisters in the US were forced to pay their last respects to their father through the Internet due to the outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday that the sisters used a web cam from New York to follow the funeral proceedings during a three-day mourning period.

The daily reported that the father, Li Rong Lu died in Seremban on June 29 and the funeral was held on Wednesday.

The sisters' aunt, Li Ai Mei told the daily that her nieces had booked tickets to return to Malaysia on Sunday.

'They tried to change the dates after learning of their father's demise but the flights were all fully-booked,' she said.

She added that after considering the need to be quarantined upon their return home, the sisters decided against returning to the country.

Their niece, Su Qiu Rong said that when Li was on his deathbed, she had brought the laptop to the hospital to let the sisters and their families in the US see Li for a last time.