What do mosquitoes, West Africa, and cutting-edge virus research have in common? For Dr. Scott Weaver, they’ve shaped a lifelong journey into the heart of epidemic science. Dr. Weaver’s story blends fieldwork, One Health thinking, and decades of partnership with scientists across Senegal, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. In this article, he reflects on building research infrastructure, discovering new viruses, and why the key to controlling epidemics starts with understanding them—right where they emerge.